Who is in Your Circle?

Who is in your circle?

Have you ever taken a moment to assess who is in your circle? If not, let’s do it right now! Think about it, who are the 5 people in your life that you cannot go a day without speaking to or at least thinking about?

One of the most important types of relationships in your life are friendships. In the google dictionary , friendships are defined as having a bond of mutual affection with another person who is not your family or your romantic partner. As you grow older, your life starts to change and in most cases either your circle changes with you or you end up outgrowing it. Scary, right? To think that you can outgrow a friendship of 5, 10 or 20 years is a very scary thing, but it happens and it's ok. Guess what? It is also perfectly fine to have different types of friends in your circle because we all have different needs and personalities.
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In Proverbs 13:20, the Bible actually speaks about friendship. It says, “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harms.

It is very important to make sure you surround yourself with people who are always looking to grow and better themselves. However, do not turn away from those who are struggling to grow or seem like they are out growing you. Help each other out. If you have a friend who is searching for purpose help her on her journey. Don’t turn your back and let her fall. Be ready to listen and help. If you have a friend that seems to be outgrowing you, it’s okay to ask for help so you can get on their level. I have friends who own homes, and since I want to become a homeowner, you better believe I am asking them a million questions because I want to get to that level too. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help! If you’re looking to grow spiritually, then surround yourself with people who are spiritual. If you’re looking to better your mental health, then surround yourself with people who aren’t constantly negative. The point is to surround yourself with those who can lift you up.

If you are wondering what type of friendships you should be looking for, and if the bible speaks about them, here are a few examples I found:

Everyone needs a Peter: The protector. In the Bible, Peter was the brave disciple and often times tried to come to the rescue of Jesus. One account of this is found in John chapter 18, when the Roman soldiers accompanied Judas to arrest Jesus. The Bible says that Peter drew his knife and cut a man’s ear off. You need someone in your circle that is willing to fight for you. This does not have to be physical, but it can be spiritual. Someone needs to constantly be praying for you and fighting against the enemy on your behalf.

Everyone needs a Timothy: An apprentice. 2 Timothy chapter 3 talks about how Paul viewed Timothy as an apprentice, someone who had aspirations to follow Paul and learn from him how to live a more prosperous life in the purpose of God. Timothy knew his place and understood that by him being connected to Paul, his life would be blessed. We should all have someone that we are mentoring to be a better person in any way we can. Who are you teaching? Who is following you?

Everyone needs a Paul: The teacher. This is the exact opposite of the previous type of friend. In this friendship, you shouldn’t need to be the sharpest knife in the drawer. You have to be connected to someone who is already living at a level you’re trying to reach. For instance, the poor can’t teach others how to be rich. Those who are depressed don’t usually teach depressed people how to live in Joy. Make sure that one of your friends can serve as a mentor to you!

Everyone needs a Jonathan: A covenant partner. The one that will be with you no matter what. 1 Samuel chapter 20 explains how Jonathan, son of King Saul, made a covenant with David even though there was a bounty for David to be killed. Jonathan understood that God had anointed David to be king and did everything in his power to ensure David was safe, even though Jonathan’s father was trying to kill David. At one point, Jonathan acknowledged that he was next in line to be the rightful King, but took an oath to ensure that God’s plan was carried out and that David would be king instead. You need someone that is not jealous of your anointing or your promotion. Find you a cheerleader! Someone that will clap for you and remind you of your God-given purpose.

Everyone needs a Silas: Someone who prays with you and for you. Acts 16, beginning at the 16th verse, explains how Paul and Silas were in prison. Because of Silas’ willingness to be a prayer partner in the midst of bondage, the Bible says that while they were praying the jail doors opened. The shackles fell off and everyone was freed. You need someone that is brave enough to pray with you through your failures, sins and setbacks. Do you have a prayer warrior as a friend?

So here’s your moment to surround yourself with people who can help you reach your full potential. It’s time to clean out your phone book and FB friends list. It’s time to be this friend for someone else. Surround yourself with people who fit in these 5 categories and watch your life change for the better.
Who’s in your circle?