1 Thessalonians 5:11, MSG

When my husband and I had been married about 3 months, I visited my parents—you know, the old “shop in Mom and Dad’s pantry and do laundry for free” routine. As I helped my mom prepare the evening meal, I spoke to her about married life. I shared how much my husband meant to me, some things we enjoyed doing together, and discussions we’d had. But as much as I loved him and loved spending time with him, I missed having friends. Then my mom asked the craziest question. “Have you prayed about it?”

That thought had never occurred to me! Turns out, God thinks having good friends is important, and it wasn’t long before I met a woman at church who was the answer to my prayer. At first glance, we didn’t even seem compatible, but God has a way of making the most amazing things from what seems completely unplausible or impossible! 

God made a helper suitable to the need

Genesis 2:18 says, “Then the Lord God said, ‘I see that it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make the companion he needs, one just right for him’” (ERV). God created Eve for Adam. The Hebrew word for this companion or helper is ezer. It means a helper suitable for the task, corresponding to the need, complementary.

I find this particularly interesting, because if I take that same concept and apply it to friendship, it explains why I felt something was missing in my life. No person could be all things to me—only God can be that, but a good friend could bring added depth to areas of my life that fell a little flat. 

Friends help us see things differently, give varying perspectives, offer wisdom, and add humor and fun to our days. Friends bring value corresponding to our needs, and friends are a gift from God.

Proverbs 27:9 says, “Sweet friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy, for good friends are like the anointing oil that yields the fragrant incense of God’s presence” (TPT). What a beautiful picture of godly friendship!

Friends bring value corresponding to our needs, and friends are a gift from God.

Our prayers never stop

My husband and I have been married 28 years now, and have two adult children. It is easy to get bogged down in the routines of life: work, family, home, and church. As someone who is remarkably introverted (though I know people who like to argue this fact with me), I can stay so busy that I never even realize I’m missing out on anything. There is always something to do, and on the off-chance there isn’t, there’s a book to read! A year ago, I didn’t even realize anything was missing in my life. My life was filled with “busy.” Then a lady from church collided into my routine and brought a couple of other ladies with her.

Several lunch dates and a group prank or two later, I realized that my life had been missing something. I didn’t know it, but God did, and that prayer I’d prayed 28 years ago was still working on my behalf. He sent these women to speak life and bring a new level of joy to my days.

In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, Paul gives instruction to believers in Thessalonica about being watchful for the Lord’s return for His bride. Among his list of important admonishments to the church, he includes, “Therefore encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing” (verse 11, AMP). Paul is saying, “You are already encouraging your brothers and sisters in the Lord. You are already encouraging your friends. You are encouraging your family. Now keep it up! Don’t stop encouraging, comforting and building up one another.”

No one suffers from over-encouragement

Paul knew the seasons ahead would be dark, and we would need people with the ability to speak life, hope, and joy to keep doing the work of ministry. We need friends to bring wisdom, correction, and joy as we walk out God’s individual plan for our life. No one suffers from over-encouragement, so who are you encouraging?

Proverbs 18:24a (NKJV) says, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly.” My mom would translate that, “Be the kind of friend to others that you want to have for yourself.” The passage in the Amplified version, however, brings even greater understanding. It says, “The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin, but there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.” Having a lot of friends doesn’t make the biggest impact—having the right friends does.

Do you have the right, godly friends who inspire you to keep pursuing Him? Are there people you can count on for support, insight, mentoring, acceptance, and kindness, all while keeping you grounded? Do they make you laugh, cry, and go on adventures full of silly shenanigans? Do they remind you to spend time in the Word and trust in God for every need? Are they people who hold you accountable for being so immersed in activities (work, reels, social media, television) that you don’t even realize you’re missing out on some of the important things in life?

We need friends to bring wisdom, correction, and joy as we walk out God’s individual plan for our life.

God has big things for our future, and He knows it isn’t good to do them alone. It’s said, “it’s lonely at the top,” but it isn’t if you bring people with you! When God is calling you to do something, it’s helpful to have people who challenge you to pursue your dreams and press in to that still, small voice for direction. You need people who will encourage you to keep going when you feel every door between where you are and your promise slamming shut in front of you. You need the right friends for the right seasons.

If that isn’t something you’re experiencing right now, have you prayed about it? You are important to God, and He needs you to have the encouragement to not give up on the thing He put in your heart to do. He needs you to be that kind of friend to someone else, too! God’s call on your life is as unique as your fingerprint, and you need the right friends to keep pushing you (kicking and screaming) to the very end. It might even be that when you start looking for how you can be a blessing and encouragement to someone else, that is when God will bring that same kind of person to you!

I want to pray for you.

If you’re reading this, know I am praying for you. I pray God will bring the right friends into your life—friends who will be some of your greatest cheerleaders, friends from whom you can ask for help without the feelings of shame from failure or fear of embarassment, friends who will complement you and be suitable for the task of being your friend.

Friendship is part of God’s plan. He knew it wasn’t good that we do life alone; He knew we needed friends. Philippians 4:19 (AMP) says, “And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” He will answer your prayers and even bring the right friends to collide with your life. 

Blessings,

Holly

Follow Me!(Only as I follow Christ!) You can follow me on Instagram @hollydmurray Click HereLet’s Be Friends!Like and follow me on Facebook for more encouragement!Click Here
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Looking for why God might call you to do something out of your comfort zone? Read “Dust Off Your Dreams” for more encouragement.

Dust Off Your Dreams

“Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others.
So use your gift well.”

1 Peter 4:10, CEV

As a child, Saturdays were for more than Bugs Bunny cartoons and a bowl of sugary cereal. Saturday was also our dreaded “clean-the-house” day. Armed with Old English polish and a clean rag, I swiped the dust from shelves in the kitchen and the wooden surfaces in my parent’s living room. Dusting was one chore I shared with my three brothers.

As an adult, I have stayed quite busy with all the things—family, work, church, and friends. Time flies when you’re having fun! However, there was a dream planted in my heart years ago, lying dormant and untended.

I could feel it tug at my heart. “Hey remember me?” my dream would call out. But the perceived pressures of performing, consistency, and perfection made me push my dream to the side in lieu of the dust on my coffee table. So, with a rag in one hand and polish in the other, I distracted myself from my dream as I wiped the dust away.

In 2 Timothy 1, Paul encourages Timothy not to be bashful about using his gifts to share the Good News. Paul says to “stir up the gift of God, which is in you.” He was telling Timothy to fan it into flames so it would grow from a small, burning ember of desire into a roaring, effective fire.

You, like me, have a gift from God. 1 Peter 4:10 is one of my favorite scriptures, and it says, “Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well” (CEV). Have you been using your gift fully, or are you so busy with all the things that, like me, your gift has a little layer of dust gathering on the surface?

When you feel that uncomfortable tug reminding you God has
something special for you to do, I’d like you to remember these three things:

1. God is calling you because He has someone in mind whose life will be pulled closer to Him because of your obedience.

2. God is calling you because He wants to stretch
your vision, abilities, and capacity to love other people.

3. God is calling you because He wants you to trust Him to help you through the process.

God loves you, without question. But His heart is always for the one – the one who feels forgotten. The one who is lost. The one who is running. The one who is ashamed. The one who is afraid.

 I have been that one.

In explaining God’s heart for the one to the disciples, Jesus says in Matthew 18:12-13, “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go in search for the one which went astray? And if he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine which never went astray” (MEV).

God is looking for the one to come to Him, and He uses His imperfect, busy, often-distracted people to show them the way. Will you ignore the call? Will you, like I have done so often, find all the things that need doing and stay so busy doing them that you drown out the voice which is softly and tenderly calling you forward?

The great news is that today is Saturday! It isn’t too late to dust off your calling and tend the dream God planted in your heart! Take some time to think about the aspirations smoldering deep within you and ask God to show you how to make the next step in walking out that call. Before long, your dream won’t just be dusted off; it will be blazing!

Blessings,

Holly

Follow Me!(Only as I follow Christ!) You can follow me on Instagram @hollydmurray Click HereLet’s Be Friends!Like and follow me on Facebook for more encouragement!Click Here
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The post The Power of Friends appeared first on Holly D. Murray.

“Greater love has no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Today is Good Friday.

Growing up, Good Friday was a school holiday. No school was something every child eagerly anticipated, and it preceded a weekend chock-full of fun activities.

We could count on our parents having baskets of candy and a chocolate bunny waiting on us when we woke on Easter morning. Mama would have made a new Easter dress for me to wear to church. She’d have purchased new stockings, white shoes, and made a matching pull-string purse to hold a tissue and a coin for the offering plate. I have three brothers, so there was plenty of competition for the hidden prize egg when we had the egg hunt with all the boiled eggs we’d decorated.

These childhood memories are precious to my heart. Today, however, as I sit outside listening to the spring birds chirping and feel the cool April breeze run across my sun-warmed arms, my thoughts travel back to a very different experience.

Intolerable Cruelties

I’ve spent several days reading about the cruelties Jesus experienced before He suffered and gave His life for us on the cross. A friend whom He’d loved and invested time and training in betrayed Him. He was so overwhelmed by what He knew He’d be facing that His pores sweated drops of blood. Those closest to Him abandoned Him, but His words still protected them. An army of at least 650 men dressed for battle arrested Him. There was so much authority and power in Jesus that just Him mentioning His identity caused the soldiers to fall. Jesus healed the ear of a man present to arrest Him. Yet with all this power and authority, He willingly went with them despite knowing their cruel intentions.

He was led for judgment by religious leaders whose hate was so intense that they spit on, humiliated, beat, blindfolded, and mocked Jesus mercilessly. They beat Him beyond anything we could fathom, such that He was unrecognizable. He was further beaten, mocked, and scorned by the military charged to secure Him, and endured a Roman scourging few survived. All of this was before the final torturous suffering of crucifixion.

Eager Anticipation

Easter was a holiday I eagerly anticipated as a child. I wonder about the eagerness of Jesus. Despite all the torture Jesus knew awaited Him, He looked beyond the cross and saw you and me. And because He loved us so much and anticipated our having a lasting covenant with His Father, He endured unthinkable abuse and death. The very human part of Him could not have welcomed the suffering, but I think He welcomed what He knew it would afford.

For every need, pain, illness, and heartache we have had or will ever suffer, Jesus willingly gave His life. Even now, He is at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf. His love for us is beyond human comprehension. Greater love has no man than this, and He has that love for you.

No Greater Love

So today, as you make preparations for Easter dinner with your loved ones, shop for the perfect dress or shoes, add another chocolate bunny to a basket, or decorate eggs with children, keep in mind all the love a person could ever have was poured out for you this day many years ago. He is the reason we celebrate–not just because He took stripes on His back for our healing or died so every sin could be forgiven, but because He didn’t stay that way! We celebrate because He is alive! He rose again, as He said He would!

In Jesus, we have the perfect example of how to love others. There is no greater love than laying your life and desires down for someone else. Most importantly, we have the opportunity to accept a loving relationship with the Creator of the world. Make beautiful memories with your loved ones, and remember the reason we celebrate. Think on all the good Jesus did this Friday and the great love He has for you. How amazing to know that someone who loved you enough to die for you is speaking to the Father on your behalf!

“Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that He has lavished on us! He has called us and made us His very own beloved children.”

1 John 3:1a, TPT

A Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for loving me so much that You sent Your Son to die for my sins. Help me to never forget the price Jesus paid so I could be in right standing with You. I ask You to forgive me for every sin and I commit my life afresh to You right now.

Jesus, thank You for willingly laying down your life for me. Now I live for You.

I will celebrate this season with joy because You were thinking of the joy that would come from my being Yours. Thank You for Your great love for me! Help me each day to show Your great love to others.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen

Let’s Talk!

Do you know how much you are loved? You are loved more than you can imagine! What is one way you show love to others? What is a tradition you have that you love? Leave your responses in the comments at the bottom of this post. I look forward to hearing from you!

Blessings,

Free Gift: Believing for a Miracle – chapter one!

Click here to read the first chapter of Holly’s book, “Believing for a Miracle” absolutely free! The paperback and Kindle version of this book and the author’s notebooks (EncouraJournals) are available on Amazon.

The post Good Friday’s Greater Love appeared first on Holly D. Murray.

“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the dew of [lofty] Mount Hermon and the dew that comes on the hills of Zion; for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore [upon the high and the lowly].”

One March evening, I headed to meet a friend for a girls-only writing get-away. I had responsibilities at church Wednesday that kept me from being able to make the trip with her, as was our custom. Not letting that stop me from going, I packed my car with the idea that I would make the trip by myself to meet her after church concluded.

In telling my husband the plans I’d made, I commented that with the time change, I wouldn’t be driving in the dark very long at all before arriving. I wasn’t worried about traveling alone, though it is rare for me to drive long distances. I am typically the passenger. That is a good thing, because when I start talking, I tend to miss the commands from my GPS.

My greatest concern was that I was tired before I even started. It had been a busy few days. As I drove, I prayed. I prayed over my husband and children, my family, and my church family. After seeing a deer eating grass on the side of the road, I prayed for all the deer to stay in the woods. It got dark earlier than I anticipated.

Inevitable Darkness

I drove long stretches of dark, country roads that had previously left me full of imagination. Earlier, I had seen old farmhouses and imagined what antics had been enjoyed within those walls. There’d been barns, ponds, cows, and farm equipment – all telling of a lifestyle that felt a lot like home. I wondered to what extent these people ever really had to leave their 5-mile radius of home.

But as I glanced at the beautiful hues of pink in my rear-view mirror, I knew my sight-seeing was about to end. I wanted to press the accelerator pedal a little harder. I knew darkness was inevitable and I still had half of the trip ahead of me.

The darker it got, the more attention I had to pay. Do you know there are really long sections of roadway in the middle of nowhere with no speed limit signs? Do you also know how hard it is to spot the outline of police cars in the dark? These were some of the thoughts that were occupying my mind as I traveled. How fast can I go? I wanted to get there as quickly as possible without seeing blue lights behind me! The ensuing darkness also made it more difficult to spot deer.

I sang along with the artists on the radio. It was now completely dark. There seemed to be no end of the small towns and their slow-down zones. My speed fluctuated between 30 and 55 miles per hour as I shortened the distance between where I was and where I was going.

Surprising Peace

As I traveled, something stuck out to me. I was passing a lot of churches. The darkness made it impossible to see the color of the buildings or what kind of church they were. I couldn’t see the details, but an overwhelming and surprising sense of peace infiltrated my mind.

I noted which churches had cars in their parking lot, indicating they were worshipping together. Several had no cars and I wondered if they only met on Sundays. But the peace I felt as I passed each one was prominent in my mind. I found that a little odd, because I’ve passed lots of churches as I’ve gone about my tasks in the town where I work. When I drive by one, I often pray over them, but I’d never felt a stirring in me quite like what I was experiencing now. I decided to ask the Lord about this surprising peace I was feeling.

God’s Unexpected Response

His response to my question was an unexpected one. He said the peace I was feeling was from the comfort of the knowledge of family. Family! I didn’t even know any of the people in these buildings, but we were family! I could have dropped in unannounced and they would be ready to accept me with open arms and pray for any need I had. That is part of what it means to be in a family. They may not be able to solve every problem, but they can point me to the One who can.

Psalms 133 says it is “truly wonderful and delightful to see brothers and sisters living together in sweet unity” (TPT). God designed us to be part of His family. We are brothers and sisters, living and working together, and it pleases Him when we are unified. In fact, following instructions to live in unity, Psalms 133:3 tells us there God commands the blessing!

The Revelation of Surprising Peace

It is usually in times of great loss or difficulty that we realize the value of family. We lean on them for encouragement, love, and support. Family brings blessed peace to tumultuous situations. What a privilege to be part of a family!

How would the realization that all believers are part of our family change our responses on social media? Would we think to extend a little more grace? Would we hold them a little more accountable and find loving ways to remind them Whose they are? Who among our followers needs to be part of our family, and how are we drawing them so they too experience surprising peace? Would we remember to have love as the foundation of all our responses?

Just on the other side of those closed church doors, part of my family was congregated. The more churches I passed, the more I realized just how big my family really was. I felt overwhelming gratitude! There is nothing more precious than family and God designed His church to be one big family. If you have asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, then you are part of this amazing family with me! How blessed I am to have you on my side!

“Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that He has lavished on us! He has called us and made us His very own beloved children.”

1 John 3:1a, TPT

It is because He loves us so lavishly that He made us a family!

A Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for loving me and making me part of Your family. I recognize the value of my personal and spiritual family, and ask you to bless each one. If I hold any unforgiveness toward anyone, show me so that I can release them from that debt and enjoy Your freedom. I choose to forgive every offense, as You require, and I choose to live unoffended!

Help me to show Your love to my brothers and sisters in Christ so that I walk in the blessing of unity! Remind me often that I am part of Your big, amazing family. I am not alone. Thank you that I have family to call on when I need help or encouragement!

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen

Let’s Talk!

Have you ever experience an overwhelming, surprising peace? What revelation did God show you about it? We are entering Thanksgiving season. What is something you are particularly thankful for about your family? Leave your responses in the comments at the bottom of this post. I look forward to hearing from you!

Blessings,

Free Printable: Family Series

Enjoy this Family Series printable set as a free gift. Included in the download are 5 colorful watercolor style photos with Scripture printed on each. Three from the set are shown below. Choose your favorite to print or print them all! They are 5×7, perfect for framing!

Click on the link and this printable will open as a PDF in a new tab. Also, be sure to check out the extended version of this set below! It contains twice as many Scriptures to bring encouragement to your day! Family and friendships are such a blessing!

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Free Gift: Believing for a Miracle – chapter one!

Click here to read the first chapter of Holly’s book, “Believing for a Miracle” absolutely free! The paperback and Kindle version of this book and the author’s notebooks (EncouraJournals) are available on Amazon.

Just for You! An Extended Family Series Printable Set!

If you have family and friends and love having the Word posted where you can see and enjoy it often, this PDF set is perfect for you! Click the photo or link here to see all the Scripture and designs included in this set. File will be sent to your email. Print at home or send to your favorite copy retailer and print as many high-quality digital prints as you’d like!

The post What is this Surprising Peace? appeared first on Holly D. Murray.

“Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

Two years of chemotherapy. To an eleven-year-old, it lasted forever. As his mother, it seemed that way to me, as well. The hours we spent praying and speaking the Word were countless. We wrote scripture on index cards and posted them all around the house and in our hospital room with each visit. Whether I was cooking dinner, getting ready for work, or meeting another nurse, I had the Word in my line of sight.

When you want something badly enough, you will do anything. You will do everything! We were desperate for God’s touch and He did not disappoint. God defied every prognosis we were given, and our joy was indeed full.

Another Call

Then we got another call. My sister-in-law received a cancer diagnosis as well. We were devastated as our minds went back to the years of treatment and side-effects our young son had endured. I geared up to fight a battle with which we were familiar. I pulled out the index cards again and began declaring the Word over my sweet sister.

The war waged. After a long season of fighting, I could sense that she was tired. I prayed, declared, argued, and cried out to my Father. I questioned and pled her case, wondering why the answer I was praying for delayed. Giving up was not my desire, but I didn’t know how long I should keep believing for the miracle that was not yet evident.

How Long Do I Keep Believing?

I asked a precious friend for godly counsel. How long do I keep believing and praying over someone who is tired of being sick, tired of medicine, and tired of fighting back? What do I do? What do I pray?

“Sweet friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy, for good friends are like the anointing oil that yields the fragrant incense of God’s presence.”

Proverbs 27:9, TPT

My friend’s answer was simple and profound. She said, “Keep praying the Word. Never stop praying and speaking the Word, no matter what the circumstances.”

You see, I was focusing on what I was seeing, and in doing so, I had taken a burden that wasn’t mine. In doing something good, fervent prayer, I had assumed liability for the healing. My job wasn’t to heal my sister-in-law. It wasn’t up to me, and I couldn’t bear the burden of when or how healing manifested. My only job was to follow Jesus’ example. He always prayed and spoke the Word of God, and that is what I must always do, too.

Fullness of Joy

God doesn’t always answer us in exactly the same way. There is no magic prayer formula. His command is to ask in His name and receive what He has for us. Keep believing. The fullness of joy we receive isn’t because we get everything for which we ask. The fullness of joy is that we learn to trust Him with every need and situation we face.

We need unwavering faith in His ability and trust He will keep His Word. It really is that simple. It’s not my job to be God. My job is to believe Him. Take Him at His Word. Receive, that your joy may be full.

A Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the powerful promises in Your Word. They are for me!

Your Word says in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are all answered ‘Yes.’ So through Him we say our ‘Amen’ to the glory of God.” I give You all glory for Your promises and agree with Your Word for every promise in my life.

I submit my life and will to You, and trust You with every situation. I thank You for the fullness of joy that comes through trusting You and relying on Your Word. Your Word is alive, active, and working in me, and I will keep believing it. I cast every care on You, knowing You care for me, and I receive the strength and joy of the Lord as my portion today.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen

Let’s Talk!

Do you have good, godly friends you can go to for prayer or when you have questions? Praise God for your friends! Post their name in the comments below and share with them how they have blessed your life.

If you don’t have a close friend from whom you can receive godly counsel, ask God to bless you with a good friend. Make it a matter of prayer and keep believing. His Word says a man who has friends must himself be friendly (Proverbs 18:24). Be the friend you need to someone else and watch God’s Word work!

I can’t wait to hear from you!

Blessings,

Free Printable:

Enjoy this Thankful Series printable set as a free gift. Included in the download are five colorful watercolor style photos with scripture printed on each. Choose your favorite to print or print them all! They are 5×7, perfect for framing!

Click on the link and this printable will open as a PDF in a new tab.

_{(Downloads are only available to hollydmurray.com subscribers: With downloading, you’ll be OPTING IN to Holly’s email newsletter with more encouragement and freebies delivered straight to your inbox! Unsubscribe at any time.)}

Today’s Must-Read Recommendation:

Empowered: A 31-Day Devotional to Empower Your Every Day

Get Rhonda Matthew’s 31-Day devotional, Empowered to empower your every day.

You’ll find her books as well as books and journals by other authors online at Integrity Publishing. (Purchases also available directly through Amazon.)

The post How Long Do I Keep Believing? appeared first on Holly D. Murray.