Friends and Encouragment.

Hebrews 10:22-25
22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Think about it: change can be good and bad. Some will argue that they love change, while some are stuck in their ways day in and day out. Even though I don't mind change, I feel like I have a pretty strict routine and could mix up things a little bit. Sometimes I say, "Wow it feels like someone keeps on pressing the repeat button on my life. In retrospect, I'm really the one doing that.

In the same way, ideas can get old. From time to time it is wise to get some fresh thought and decisions in your mind. How do you go about this? It goes back to what I mentioned yesterday: finding a friend with a similar belief system as you. Often when a situation arises, they have a fresh thought pattern that they can offer. If you've been mulling over an issue, they haven't been mulling over the same one.

These friends can also introduce you to fresh "good deeds." If it's a friend that knows you well, they can really help you with this. They can be the support you need to carry out those good deeds.

Last but not least, your friends can help eliminate your guilt. As an understanding friend, they will forgive you. They can even talk you out of your guilt. This can further increase your hope.

So switch it up a little bit. Do something you wouldn't normally do, like talk very seriously about your faith with another friend.