You Need One Of These

A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.—Proverbs 17:17

You know you want them, but they are often hard to find—they're friends. The kind of friends that will get up at 2:00 am and rush to your aid for no other reason than they care about you. While you may be afraid to admit it openly, I bet you wish deep down you had friends like this. A friend that was "closer than a brother." Yet men, too often, go through life without one.

This proverb speaks openly about what men seldom confess. We long for meaningful relationships with other men. (I made that bold, so you don't miss it.) It's a friendship that ascends the bond of two male siblings. It's a masculine need to be known, valued, and loved regardless of our successes or shortcomings. And it's not something you stumble upon; it's something that you must intentionally build. We commonly call this friend a "brother" because he means so much more than "friend." 

DO THIS: Be a brother today, and thank someone for their friendship.

PRAY THIS: God, you know my need for friendship. Help me to be loved and to extend love to others. God, send me a friend who is closer than a brother.