"Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." Proverbs 27:6,7,9,17

Dear Heavenly Father, just as you have given me Jesus, you have also given me Christian friends who honestly love and serve my best interest. help me to appreciate their honest meddling in my heart. I do not want to be like a school boy playing dodge ball jumping this way tand that to avoid penetrating conversation. Make me bold to let my friends affect me. But also, help me to affect them with the same loving, honest, god-pleasing advice. It is so easy to imagine everything is good and nothing should be changed while I live with a blind spot that you sent friends to remove. Give all of us the grace that forgives and makes us vulnerable to one another in that good and holy way. AMEM

Deep personal friendship is dangerous for our vain ceramic egos.

Additional Readings: Psalm 141:5, Proverbs 20:30, Proverbs 28:23, 2 Corinthians 7:8-13