Do You Need Covenant Friends?
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I’ve heard many of our precious Presence seekers talk lately about their loneliness. If you are lonely today, I want to encourage you and help you build your faith for divinely-appointed friendships.
Here’s the backstory:
I wept as I listened to the preacher talk about Jonathan and David from First Samuel 18. “Jonathan’s soul was knit to the soul of David,” he said. “Jonathan took off his royal robe and his sword and gave his inheritance to David, making a covenant with him there—because he loved David as his own soul.”
I was inspired by the beauty of David and Jonathan’s friendship, but I didn’t cry because I was inspired. I cried because I longed for friends like that.
Oh, I had friends already; plenty of them. Plenty of acquaintances too: those nice people I greet in the hallway; my Facebook friends. I’m surrounded by people, and I’m in the public eye constantly.
But covenant friends? They were few and far between … and I was lonely.
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So I began to pray.
“Dear Father, You know I long for covenant friends like David and Jonathan were. The kind of friends for whom my husband and I would be willing to give our lives, who would also lay down their lives for us. I believe it’s Your will for us to have friends like that. So Father, I ask in Jesus’ name, please send us the covenant friendships that You desire us to have.”
It took time, but the Lord began to answer that prayer. Not all at once. Slowly, however, new people came into our lives:
- People who feel like they are extensions of ourselves, and with whom we share the same heart.
- People who value real friendship as much as we do.
- People who ask us how we are, and actually care about the answer.
- People with whom we can laugh, have fun, and be serious too.
One at a time, in answer to prayer, God began to send my husband and I amazing people with whom we have much in common.
It has not been easy. It can be hard sometimes to discern who is going to be a covenant friend, versus a short-term friend, versus an acquaintance. Sometimes people come into your life for just a season. So, I continue to pray for additional true, lasting friendships. However, I am eternally grateful for the relationships He has already sent.
But what about you? Are you lonely today? Do you need covenant friends too?
- Do you long for friends who will reach out to you, instead of you always having to reach out?
- Do you long for friends who ask questions about your life, instead of only talking about themselves?
- Do you long for friends who will be as involved in your life as you are in theirs?
- Do you long for friends who will love you like Jonathan loved David?
You’re not alone if you do, but don’t despair. God can give you friendships like that!
God sees the desire of your heart, and He approves. He invented friendship. He invented covenant. He invented deep, lasting relationships. And right now, our Father has some friends for you up His sleeve. He wants to bring you into beautiful relationships with people who share your sense of humor, interests, and values.
All you have to do is ask Him.
In John 14:13-14, Jesus said:
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
Whatever you ask, He will do. That includes giving you real, intimate friendships.
You don’t have to put up with only having acquaintances. You don’t even have to be satisfied with friendships in which you do all the work. You can have lasting, two-way-street, covenant friendships:
- Friends who will stand with you to the bitter (or beautiful) end;
- Friends who will cry out to God in prayer the very instant you need help;
- Friends who will pour into your life as you pour into theirs.
You can experience true, Biblical community with godly people who share your heart. You can’t conjure those friendships up yourself. But God can give you the friends you desire.
If you’re lonely, would you ask Father God for covenant friends today?
AMEN
Amen
Jesus will be recommending more friends to us. Just add Him first.
YES!
My heart has been yearning for friends that “sharpen iron” for my husband and me and our daughter. We are in a community of believers who love and serve God but who aren’t pursuing His Presence and the gifts He has for us.
amen
I have longed for those types of friendships and I ask for them just now for me and my husband in whom I have yet to meet but I know that is what we desire. For someone to care for us as much as we care for them and to make me that friend also. Thank you Jamie
Shalom greetings Jamie; had a covenant friend much like Jonathan & David, our souls were knit together; then the enemy lied to ‘friend’ that of ‘gay’ ‘lesbian’ etc., and thus robbed me of having one c.f.! would to GOD that HE send a replacement?
This really hit home for me. This is the exact thing that I’ve been struggling with for awhile now. It’s hard when I feel that “lonely” feeling because I know I should be leaning on God and not people to fill that void. And I do. But the desire to have friends that care as much about me and I do them is this there. And my husband truly is my best friend, so why do I still desire other friendships? Thank you for this article. I will definitely be praying for covenant friendships. ❤️
Amen.
God please give me a friend who will stay with me to the bitter end. One who honours and reveres Your name. Who builds up not tears down. One who is in covenant with You the real living God. I also ask for the gift of discernment of spirits in Jesus Holy name I ask. Amen
David and Jonathan were very close. It saddened me how Jonathan died and Davids heart was broken. I thank God I have a friend that use to live in my city, but than moved to another state. We still pray together over the phone and are very close. I love having friends that agree with what you believe. The word of God. Father, son and Holy Spirit. I love Jamies inspirational words and wisdom, and her love that she pours out comes right through my phone. It’s like drinking a cup of coffee and enjoying your company, with God and friends?Gotta love it! Well I do. I love the prayers!!! So friends, welcome welcome welcome. We can all be each other’s friends, how about that one?
I have always longed for those kind of friends,God give me friends who will add flavour to my life just like Jonathan and David did.
Just like food , when you add certain flavors and kabaam! It taste great! Well the Lord talks about another kind of flavoring. Us! We are to be the salt of the earth, not the pepper,lol!
Why? Salt preserves and adds, enhances , enriches.Sooo that’s what we are called to do. Unfortunately many which I have experienced add pepper only leaving many feeling worthless, flavorless. But God calls us to season others, of course like our sister Jamie, to encourage, pray and season , enrich, uplift each other. Which is lacking in many churches. But he is choosing us to be the changers. Is it easy? Well sometimes it’s hard when the other person is not on the same page as you, but like Jamie said , God will send you someone. I also send prayer requests when I can’t bear what I’m going through ,but God has always pushed me forward one more day. So dear friends if this is how we communicate, we’ll Amen?Count it all joy wherever you are, I’m here☺God bless everyone and God bless Jamie and her family
I believe that God gave David such a friend in Jonathan because he knew David would need it. Having to face years of persecution from enemies, even to the point of running away, was not easy, not even for the man that David was. Nowhere else in scriptures was such a friendship.
I don’t think I need covenant friends, but if I do, my Father knows also, and he will send them.
The question is are you willing, able and prepared to be a “covenant” friend.
FATHER GOD , IN JESUS NAME, I ask believe hope receive and thank YOU for covenant friendships. Bring into my life friends who adore YOU just as much as I do and will be there when we need each other the most, IN JESUS NAME….AMEN
Jonathan’s soul was knit to David’s soul…now that’s what I call true friendship
I’m blessed to have covenant friends, what we share is deep and we genuinely want whats best for each other. We are able to pick up in the spirit when one needs to be carried in prayer. It’s true we have soo many friends but only few covenant friends.
I do receive it …thanks Sis Jamie..Amen!!!!!
I would like a covenant friendship