Day 3 - Christian Friends

How can we focus more on Christ?

Christian Friends

We all need that friend we can call to pray for us on a hard day and praise God with us on a good day! Christian friends get us. A good Christian friend will love and support us just as God wants.

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" Psalms 133:1

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." John 15:12-13

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity." Proverbs 17:17

"One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

"My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend." Job 16:20-21

"When Job prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes, giving him twice as much as before." Job 42:10

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Where to find Christian friends? Church, Bible study, volunteering? Anywhere can you find people? I happened to find some awesome moms through my kids and their sports, activities, and school.

Sometimes we might have to get uncomfortable to find new friends. We might have to initiate conversations with others when we are not wired to strike up conversations. (I can relate to this.)

Let’s take an inventory of our friends. Let’s spend more time with the friends who are encouraging us in Christ, praying for us, and supporting us all with the love of Jesus!

Day 2 - Read the Bible

How can we Focus more on Christ?

Read the Bible - It’s another obvious answer today! Reading the Bible will get us seeking Him, focusing on Him, and growing closer to Him.

I remember when the kids were born, I wished they would have come with their own instruction manual. I didn’t realize at the time, but they did-The Bible! We have an instruction manual for life. But are we reading daily?

I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to stay in routine. My perfect weekday routine includes getting up before everyone and reading. I love the quiet house with no interruptions. But there are more seasons than I would like to admit that extra sleep wins and I fail to get up early.

The seasons that my Bible is neglected is usually filled with more stress and worries. The seasons of discipline and daily reading gives each day a positive outlook.

For example, the thing that stresses me out in life is the feeling of not having enough time to do all the things I want to do. I have so many ideas and ambitions, but I sometimes just “zone out” because I know there isn’t enough time to do them all.

But let me tell you about the last few weeks. I have been diligent, and my daily readings have been on point. Each day I have accomplished so many meaningful things. I feel energized and renewed. I thank God for the words on those pages and the time He is giving me to read the Bible.

I read this quote at some point in my life, “God will give you exactly the amount of time you need in a day to do the things He wants you to do.” I need to listen better for where He wants me to spend my time and reading the Bible will help me hear!

Reading my Bible has changed my life through the years. I can't remember the last time I had anxiety about anything. I am slower to get angry. The Bible taught me to be me, exactly as God created me, not a duplicate or a replica of others. I stopped striving and have learned all about grace. Thank you, God for your Bible, and help us devote our time to reading!

If you have kids and want to read about ways I encouraged them to read their Bible, I wrote this a few months ago. https://www.nataliebonkowski.com/post/three-tactics-to-encourage-your-teen-kids-to-read-their-bible

Day 1 – How can we Focus more on Christ? Pray

Pray! Yes, this is an obvious answer to seeking Him, focusing on Him, and growing closer to Him. But let’s make a conscious effort to pray more than we do.

Let’s double our prayer time. Let’s set a few timers on our phones throughout the day to remind us to say a quick prayer. Let’s pray while we brush our teeth. Let’s pray when we are in the car rider or fast-food pick-up line. Let’s say, “Thank you Jesus” every time we pick up our cup of water/beverage while at work, in the car, or at home. Let’s pray before we eat. Let’s pray as soon as our feet hit the floor in the morning and as soon as we crawl in bed for the evening.

Let’s thank Him, let’s pray for our neighbors, and our family and friends. Let’s pray for our children and our parents that they have a blessed day, and that God watches over them. Let’s ask our friends how we can pray for them. Let’s just start to have more conversations with God. Share your ideas for places or times to pray this month!