Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

~ Proverbs 27:9 ESV

“Can we talk?” The words flashed across the screen of my captioned phone.

“Sure.” My quick reply crushed the barrier of miles between us, and my friend’s heart was instantly connected to mine.

Within minutes, I discerned by her voice that she was finally smiling. And before I knew it, we had spent two hours sharing praise reports, prayer requests, and nuggets of truth God was revealing to us from His Word.

We finally hung up our phones, having a plan for our next get-together set into motion. Our goodbye’s, love you’s, and talk soon left me alone again in my home, yet walking alongside a faithful friend in my heart.

The writer of Proverbs likens the good advice from a friend to the joy of a sweet-smelling oil or perfume. This is something I can relate to. You see, I have a slight addiction to essential oils. At any given time, the diffuser sprays pleasant aromas throughout my home. Once I discovered the medicinal properties of essential oils, my life changed. And my health––mentally and physically––took an upward climb.

I remember the many times this same friend has prayed with me, set aside time to fast with me, and offered simple advice that strengthened my hope in the Lord. As Ecclesiastes declares, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a ESV). Just as essential oils bring benefits to my life, godly friendships are good medicine for the soul. These friendships encourage us to go deeper in our faith.

We need to cherish friends who remind us to pray before acting, search for truth in Scripture to combat the lies of the enemy that may swirl in our minds, and implore us to worship even when we don’t feel like it. Friends like these are a priceless gift from our Father in Heaven.

Take a moment to thank a friend who adds spiritual sweetness to your life.

Dear Father God, thank You for blessing me with godly friends. Help me to continue to cultivate lasting friendships with those who will strengthen my faith in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2022: The Gift of Faithful Friends: Rosann Coulon: All Rights Reserved.