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Habits #2: Allies

Welcome to the bonus material for Habit #2! We’re glad you’ve decided to take this deeper dive to make changes that can affect your life forever. An ally is simply a close, caring friend who wants to help you follow Jesus. Here are the benefits of having allies in your life:

Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts (Ecclesiastes 4:9).

  • Having allies adds INSIGHT to your decisions. The result is better direction. Fools think they need no advice, but the wise listen to others (Proverbs 12:15). When you find the right friend, an ally, this friend will give advice and insight to your life while also helping you with direction.  Acquaintances give general advice, but an ally gives more specific advice. An ally will share with you things you may not see.

  • Having allies adds TRUTH to your perception. The result is better perspective. Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy (Proverbs 27:6). Allies speak truth into your life.  It changes your perception which leads to new perspective. Allies are real friends who sometimes tell you what you don’t want to hear. Average friends will tell you what you want to hear. If we’re going to grow, if we’re going to have habits that change our life, we have to have truth-telling friends in our life.

  • Having allies adds HOPE when you’re hurting. The result is healing. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect (James 5:16). When you go through life with allies, they provide help when you are hurting. God uses us to bring healing to each other.  He brings emotional and spiritual healing through listening and praying for each other.

  • Having allies adds FAITH to your journey. The result is spiritual growth. Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17). When looking for an ally, look for someone who is on the same spiritual level as you. You want to both be at a place where you can challenge each other and build each other up.

Here’s how to move from surface-level friendship to deep friendship with allies:

  1. Meet FAITHFULLY. Once a week
  2. Speak TRUTHFULLY. Be honest with one another
  3. Admit STRUGGLES. It could help you not to repeat something you are trying to change
  4. Encourage STRENGTHS. Spend time pointing out the positive you see in each other
  5. Challenge SPIRITUALLY. Remind each other who you want to be

NEXT STEPS

Is there a friend in your life…

  • Who would ask you honest questions?
  • Who would answer honest questions?
  • Who would challenge you to be the best you God wants you to be?
  • Who has a desire to grow and live God’s way?
  • Who you can check in with once a week?

Pray about that friend that you want to ask to be an ally and then ask.

One last thought: Developing this habit will change your FRIENDSHIPS and your LIFE!