be the Proverbs 27 friend

I am going to tell you again about Proverbs. There are 31 chapters in the book as there are 31 days in most months. Read it as I do each morning, and I will share some with you from chapter 27, yesterday’s reading.

This book has fed and led me for years, and I believe it will give you several things. One of those is a love for God’s Word. Another is the habit of reading God’s Word. And another is the understanding that God’s ways and wisdom will change our lives.

Spend time today in Proverbs and every day. This specific Proverbs reminds us to be a friend and help others be stronger. Here are some verses that spoke to me.

Proverbs 27:2 NLT

Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth— a stranger, not your own lips.

Proverbs 27:6 NLT

Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

Proverbs 27:9 NLT

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

Proverbs 27:21 NLT

Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised.

Those four verses remind us to listen to friends and to be a friend. Let them speak over us, to us and in us. It will make the day better. Those words and that friend might be how God works in our lives for lasting change.

We need people who make us better and stronger. Who are those people in your life? Who are you being a friend to?

Proverbs 27:27 NLT

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

That is one of my favorites. Yesterday afternoon as I was preparing for our Bible study my phone rang. It was a friend from Chicago who said God placed me on his heart. For the next couple minutes this football coach, brother and friend shared with me and prayed for me. Just like that iron sharpening, he sharpened me.

Be that friend to someone today!

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