6 Characteristics to Build Christian Friendships

Summer Sizzle is Back!!

Last year, the Christian Bloggers Mastermind group I participate in decided to start the Summer Sizzle to help give each other the summer off from extra writing but yet still have a chance to give the best content out there. On a small group blogger retreat with one another we all jumped to the idea of creating the Summer Sizzle; where we all share each others top posts in our own individual blogs. New content to the other and new audience of readers to the content. It was a win-win for any blogger!

Last year was a huge hit so deciding to do it again was a easy decision! 

The first week here is my beautiful, Dawn Klinge. This post is actually based off our her experience from our first bloggers retreat together and how the true meaning of friendship spoke to her. Can’t wait to hear about what you think!

“Christ, who said to the disciples, ‘You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,’ can truly say to every group of Christian friends, ‘You have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another.” -C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

The older I get, the more I’ve grown into a deeper understanding of what a precious gift true friendship is.  We were made by God to be in community with others.  There have been times when that community I’ve needed has been missing.  I’ve learned to recognize that need and ask God to meet it- and he has done just that.

A couple of years ago, God started bringing together a group of women writers.  When I was invited to join them in an online group I knew the invitation was an answered prayer.  We have a common bond in our shared love for Christ.  Other than that, we’re quite varied in all other respects. Our friendships grew closer over time as we supported one another and prayed together.  Geographically, we’re spread throughout the country (and beyond).  Few of us had ever met face to face- until recently.

The idea to meet together in Arizona took hold and became a reality.   It was a beautiful time that forged lasting bonds among us.  We laughed a lot, cried, prayed together, and enjoyed the sweetest time getting to know one another better.  There was no doubt in my mind that God had chosen us for each other.

I’ve been thinking about what it is that’s so special about these women and what it is about our friendships makes them feel so true.  First, as I said earlier, I believe God chose us for one another.  After that, whether it’s intentional or not, there seems to be an effort among the group to live out the following six characteristics.  You’ll find these 6 qualities are common among all great friendships:

1. KINDNESS

   “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” Job 6:14

2. GOOD LISTENING

   “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” James 1:19

3. FORGIVENESS

   “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

4. ENCOURAGEMENT

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

5. PATIENCE

   “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2

6. SENSITIVITY

   “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” –Romans 12:15

   

God brings friendships into our lives and they are a blessing, a precious gift.  Stewarding that gift well means being intentional in the way we love one another.

If you find yourself in a place where you’re lacking the kind of community and friendships you desire, please, let me encourage you to ask God to meet that need.  And then, when he does, remember these six characteristics of a great friendship.

Is there anything you would add?

Dawn is a freelance writer and Christian blogger who loves encouraging women to keep their focus on Jesus. She’s the author of Look to Jesus: How to Let Go of Worry and Trust God. She’s a wife and mom to two teens. A Seattle girl, she loves books and coffee. You can find her at DawnKlinge.com