Good morning everyone and welcome back to another morning with the masters where we devote

ourselves to the Lord daily with you. Good morning you guys. Good morning everyone. We are

picking up a new devotional titled Strong. It's by Lisa Bevere and it is on how to live a powerful

and passionate life and Tori's just going to take it from here. Yes y'all let's do it. The

verse is Proverbs 27 verse 5 and 6 and it says, better is open rebuke than hidden love.

Wounds from a friend can be trusted but an enemy multiplies kisses. It's titled Wise in Friendship.

Friendship can have a powerful effect on us. True friends will speak the truth to us,

delivering words that may wound our pride but ultimately heal us. Friends who can be trusted will tell

us what we need to hear rather than what we want to hear. On the other hand we are warned that bad

company corrupts good character. So it is wise to surround yourself with people you want to become

like rather than with people you don't. Here are some thoughts on how strong people choose friends.

First, make sure your friends are for you not against you. Do you most often connect on a level

of complaining? Do you leave their company feeling worn out, depleted or angry?

Strive to find friends who are invested in your growth and be that kind of friend yourself.

Second, you want a friend who challenges you to grow and helps you focus on who you want to be.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Scripture tells us in Proverbs 27 17.

You want to have and be a friend who will speak the truth in love instead of flattering,

coddling or telling them what they want to hear. Disagreement can be healthy and words

from this kind of friend can be trusted. Be patient. Trust takes time. Friendship takes time.

Intimacy is not the same thing as oversharing. You don't truly know someone just because you know

more than you should about them or they know more than they should about you. I have seen

friendships that spring up instantly and fade just as quickly. Like anything of value,

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