Freely Speaking Audio Devotion

Welcome to Freely Speaking, an OHSOFREE devotional ministry where we share our hearts and trust God for transformation.

Today’s devotion was written by Angela Vandagriff.

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24, NIV).

I have had unreliable friends enter and exit my life. Sadly, I withdrew from people with each painful exit, eventually forgetting how to be a godly friend. I became committed to being alone.

Imposter friends bring destruction and heartache. Our reference verse today tells us to be aware that unreliable and misleading people will call themselves our friends only to cause us harm. But God does not want us to give up on friendship. We are created for relationships. The standard for friendship was set in the last part of our reference verse, “but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” Jesus is that friend. He pours into us nothing but good, inspiring us to do the same toward others.

Walking through an unhealthy relationship alone, I struggled with trust. God saw that struggle and placed one of the most precious women possible in my life. She poured into me through kind gestures, encouraging words, and, most importantly, the love of Christ. With each act of kindness, I saw what it meant to be a godly friend. In need of a car, she sold me one for a dollar. That act of kindness changed the trajectory of my life. Her friendship became the foundation of how I invested in future friendships. Many women have come and gone through the years; some stayed, others just passed through, but I have tried to love each one like my friend loved me.

We have just dipped our toes into 2025, and I encourage you to invest in that friendship. Send that text, make that call, buy that lunch, and yes, if you must sell a car for a dollar, do so; it could just be the best investment you will ever make in someone's life. Be that friend that sticks closer than family! Strive to be the kind of friend Jesus is!

Thank you for joining us today. If you would like to learn more about OhSoFree Ministries, please visit us at www.ohsofreeministries.com/