Welcome to episode #199! This week, Matt and Braden talk about the importance of good, healthy friendships in your life and how they can correlate with overcoming sexual sin.
God designed us to be in community
It’s important to have a church family if you are a follower of Jesus. Family connections and friendships are central to our spiritual, physical and mental health. We need people in our life who are looking out for us. It is a two way street that we can also be looking out for people as well. Friends spur us on, they see the good in us and call us out when we are not acting the way we should.
Friendships can be foundational in getting you out of an addiction.
There are different levels of friendship that you’ll have with people - some are more “fun” and some are deep or more serious. There is value in having those different relationships with people. When friends are calling you out on your dirt, they are actually speaking to who you are, to your true, God-given identity. They want to expose the gold in your life and help you get rid of the junk. You need to make sure to have those types of relationships to help you find freedom.
Learn what it means to have good friendships.
There is an active component to friendship.We need to encourage, spur each other on and call out good in each other. If you aren’t sure if a friendship is a healthy one or toxic, you can reference this verse to evaluate. Toxic people are toxic to your life. If your friends are only with you to what you can give to them, are keeping you in a place that isn’t healthy or pulling you back into habits you want to get free from, you need to reevaluate those relationships. Surround yourself with people that want to encourage you, build you up and see you succeed in life.
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Resources
Pure Freedom Community for men 18+
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FamilyLife Canada: Resources and events to strengthen your marriage
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Podcast Hosts
BRADEN HAFNER
Braden is the Regional Director in Alberta for FamilyLife Canada. He has been married for 14 years to his wife Kristen, and they live in Edmonton, Alberta. He is passionate about seeing marriages grow and thrive, and helping couples move to a deeper oneness with one another and with God. FamilyLife Canada has a variety of resources and events to help you and your spouse take your marriage to the next level. See what would benefit you at www.familylifecanada.com
MATT CLINE
Matt and his wife Louise raise their little guys, David and Oliver, in Edmonton, Alberta. He is honoured to do what he can to tackle the epidemic of pornography and sexual perversion in every way possible. Seeing lives and marriages get free and experience the love of God in profound ways is what drives him every day. He leads Restored Ministries, is a certified speaker and coach for the John Maxwell Team, and formerly played hockey in the WHL and for Hockey Canada. You can visit www.restoredministries.ca.
