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A Prayer When You Don’t Have Any FriendsBy Kelly Balarie "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved right by her deeds." – Matthew 11:19 NIV Have you ever noticed – it is possible to be around people and to still feel lonely? It is possible to be around people-galore and to feel unknown, unheard, and uninterested. I hate that feeling. I suppose my issue is that I do not like small talk. Small talk feels empty, shallow, and worthless in the grand scheme of life.   "What do you do for a living?""Who cares," I think. Then and there, rightly or wrongly, I decide the conversation is boring. I suddenly have a strong urge to go to the bathroom. Why? Because I could care less how much money a person makes or what complaint about day they have or their thoughts on the food we are eating. Life is short; time is precious. I want real meaning. Yet, surface-level talk makes me feel as if I am wasting my time. It makes me think that my life would be better if I were somewhere else. Like sitting at home with an amazing book that enthralls me with its sage truth and sound counsel. If I go a little deeper, though, I think there is something more there... Friends? Sometimes, I don't feel like investing in people because I'm afraid they may let me down, leave me short, or hurt me. I suppose I exit early with people, sometimes... Peeling back the layers of my heart is much like peeling back an onion. I am lonely because of my own decisions because I don't always endure or bear up with others, and because my search for real meaning is often self-righteous pride. God, I'm sorry. Jesus did not make friends with people who were just like Him; He was a friend "of tax collectors and sinners." (Matt. 11:19)In this Scripture, I notice that Jesus did not make friendship about Himself, but about them – the sinners. Jesus didn't look at what was in relationship for Him, but He moved out with words, prayers and impact that always affected others. Forgive me, Father, for being selfish in relationships.Jesus was different than sinners but still got to know them. Do I?Jesus was more holy than these people but spent time with them anyway. Do I?Jesus didn't relate to sinners on every level but still gave them a chance. Do I? Often, I don't. I'm impatient at times. But it gets me thinking – maybe I could do things a new way... I can give imperfect (or potentially nervous) people more of a chance. Rather than exiting stage left after 10 minutes of shallow conversation, I can ask questions that bring people deeper. I can go on the walk with the woman who has been asking and asking. I wonder, what would it look like for you to do things a new way? To endure in a relationship? To bear up with others? To enter into a relationship even when it feels scary? To open up? Our movement forward in the face of fear is often God's deep work that sets us free. Often, the people God wants us to love – and connect with — are right before us. Let's pray: Father, I am lonely. I know that I am not alone. Scripture says that Jesus "often withdrew to lonely places and prayed (Lu. 5:16)." Sometimes, the world does feel lonely. Sometimes, there are reasons why we are set apart from people. Sometimes, life's circumstances keep us separated. Father, I ask you to restore meaningful relationships in my life. I ask you to bring the right people into my world. I ask you to help my heart be open to them. I ask you to give me a listening ear. Help me to be the sort of friend that you have been to me. I thank you for your friendship. I don't want to be alone anymore. I want connection and relationship with others. Will you send me friends? In Jesus' mighty name. Amen. Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/fizkes Kelly uplifts believers with boosts of faith; be encouraged weekly by getting Kelly's blog posts by email. Kelly, a cheerleader of faith, is a blogger, national speaker, and author of Take Every Thought Captive, Rest Now, Battle Ready, and Fear Fighting. Kelly loves seeing the power of prayer in action. She loves seeing the expression on women's faces when they realize – their God is faithful! Kelly's work has been featured on The Today Show, CBN's 700 Club, Relevant and Today's Christian Woman.  Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer When You Don’t Have Any Friends – Your Daily Prayer – August 10 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Prayer When You Don’t Have Any FriendsBy Kelly Balarie "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved right by her deeds." – Matthew 11:19 NIV Have you ever noticed – it is possible to be around people and to still feel lonely? It is possible to be around people-galore and to feel unknown, unheard, and uninterested. I hate that feeling. I suppose my issue is that I do not like small talk. Small talk feels empty, shallow, and worthless in the grand scheme of life.   "What do you do for a living?""Who cares," I think. Then and there, rightly or wrongly, I decide the conversation is boring. I suddenly have a strong urge to go to the bathroom. Why? Because I could care less how much money a person makes or what complaint about day they have or their thoughts on the food we are eating. Life is short; time is precious. I want real meaning. Yet, surface-level talk makes me feel as if I am wasting my time. It makes me think that my life would be better if I were somewhere else. Like sitting at home with an amazing book that enthralls me with its sage truth and sound counsel. If I go a little deeper, though, I think there is something more there... Friends? Sometimes, I don't feel like investing in people because I'm afraid they may let me down, leave me short, or hurt me. I suppose I exit early with people, sometimes... Peeling back the layers of my heart is much like peeling back an onion. I am lonely because of my own decisions because I don't always endure or bear up with others, and because my search for real meaning is often self-righteous pride. God, I'm sorry. Jesus did not make friends with people who were just like Him; He was a friend "of tax collectors and sinners." (Matt. 11:19)In this Scripture, I notice that Jesus did not make friendship about Himself, but about them – the sinners. Jesus didn't look at what was in relationship for Him, but He moved out with words, prayers and impact that always affected others. Forgive me, Father, for being selfish in relationships.Jesus was different than sinners but still got to know them. Do I?Jesus was more holy than these people but spent time with them anyway. Do I?Jesus didn't relate to sinners on every level but still gave them a chance. Do I? Often, I don't. I'm impatient at times. But it gets me thinking – maybe I could do things a new way... I can give imperfect (or potentially nervous) people more of a chance. Rather than exiting stage left after 10 minutes of shallow conversation, I can ask questions that bring people deeper. I can go on the walk with the woman who has been asking and asking. I wonder, what would it look like for you to do things a new way? To endure in a relationship? To bear up with others? To enter into a relationship even when it feels scary? To open up? Our movement forward in the face of fear is often God's deep work that sets us free. Often, the people God wants us to love – and connect with — are right before us. Let's pray: Father, I am lonely. I know that I am not alone. Scripture says that Jesus "often withdrew to lonely places and prayed (Lu. 5:16)." Sometimes, the world does feel lonely. Sometimes, there are reasons why we are set apart from people. Sometimes, life's circumstances keep us separated. Father, I ask you to restore meaningful relationships in my life. I ask you to bring the right people into my world. I ask you to help my heart be open to them. I ask you to give me a listening ear. Help me to be the sort of friend that you have been to me. I thank you for your friendship. I don't want to be alone anymore. I want connection and relationship with others. Will you send me friends? In Jesus' mighty name. Amen. Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/fizkes Kelly uplifts believers with boosts of faith; be encouraged weekly by getting Kelly's blog posts by email. Kelly, a cheerleader of faith, is a blogger, national speaker, and author of Take Every Thought Captive, Rest Now, Battle Ready, and Fear Fighting. Kelly loves seeing the power of prayer in action. She loves seeing the expression on women's faces when they realize – their God is faithful! Kelly's work has been featured on The Today Show, CBN's 700 Club, Relevant and Today's Christian Woman.  Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer When You Don’t Have Any Friends – Your Daily Prayer – August 10 appeared first on GodUpdates.

Historical Events 1585 - English Queen Elizabeth I signs Treaty of Nonsuch: Aid for Netherlands 1877 - Battle of the Big Hole: US Army led by Colonel John Gibbon fights the Nez Perce led by Chief Joseph and Looking Glass in Montana, both sides suffer heavy casualties causing the Nez Perce to continue their long fighting retreat 1949 - Ezzard Charles TKOs Gus Lesnevich in 8 for heavyweight boxing title 1960 - Los Angeles premiere of Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh 1977 - Phillies and Expos play a doubleheader that ends at 3:23 AM 2008 - British cyclist Nicole Cooke wins the road race at the Beijing Olympics; Great Britain's 200th gold in the modern Olympics More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1708 - Johannes Stinstra, Dutch Mennonite preacher, born in Harlingen, Friesland (d. 1790) 1856 - William Willett, British inventor of Daylight Saving Time, born in Farnham, Surrey, England (d. 1915) 1940 - Richard Wells, British Chief Constable (South Yorkshire - in charge after Hillsborough disaster) 1943 - Ronnie Spector [Veronica Bennett], American pop singer (The Ronettes -"Be My Baby"), born in New York City (d. 2022) 1957 - Fred Ho [Houn], American jazz baritone saxophonist, composer (Year of the Tiger), playwright, writer and social activist, born in Palo Alto, California (d. 2014) 1962 - Dan Donovan, English rock keyboardist (Big Audio Dynamite), born in London, England More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1628 - Hans Jonsson, Swedish fleet commander, drowned 1717 - Nicolaas Witsen, Dutch statesman and mayor of Amsterdam, dies at 76 1843 - Jakob F. Fries, German philosopher, dies at 69 1861 - Nathaniel Lyon, American Brigadier-General (Union Army), 1st Union General to die in battle at 43 1974 - Ivor Dean, British stage and screen actor (Treasure Island; The Saint - "Inspector Teal"), dies at 56 1994 - Leendert-John Schalm, Dutch banker on Curacao, murdered at 58 More Famous Deaths »

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