Speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ. Ephesians 4:15 (NKJV)
Are you spending time with people who positively influence your thoughts and beliefs?
If the majority of your time is spent with people who think negatively and make excuses, their thinking will influence you. You need the truth of God’s Word, and people around you who believe it.
In fact, you need friends that will speak truth to you in general. People who are willing to tell you the truth are valuable. You become sharper just for having these people in your life because just as iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17), a friend who speaks the truth in love sharpens you.
Of course, more than anything else we do, we need to encourage each other. We need to communicate that our love for each other is unconditional: “I’ll love you just as you are.” We can’t help each other to change and grow if we pretend nothing is ever wrong. We need to be willing to speak the truth, and the truth isn’t always pleasant.
A blade being sharpened against a file makes an annoying sound. It’s unpleasant, just as words that sharpen can be unpleasant. That’s why it’s so important to communicate with love, because love says, “I’m only telling you this because I love you, and I’ll love you no matter what.”
Thank God for friends who sharpen you. You’ll never become complacent if you surround yourself with people who speak the truth in love. They challenge you because they believe in you and know you are capable of great things. They’re helping you to grow.