For His Glory or My Own?

I was reading a blog from the Good Women Project about friendships that really got me thinking and reflecting on my heart towards my friends.  The post starts out talking about how this woman has some really beautiful and amazing friends, but she is constantly desiring more.  Here is a clip of it that blog:

"But as I’ve begun to understand the reason for my desire for more I realize that I’ve been missing out on something special with the friendships I already have.

I’m not supposed to be a collector. I’m not supposed to have a little shelf to place my friends on and display them to the world.

My friendships aren’t about me. They’re not about helping me meet more people, becoming friends with more people, becoming more popular, or building a bigger support system. I’m supposed to live sacrificially for others. I’m supposed to listen to my friends – really listen. Not just nod my head and agree. I should listen – hear them, hear their pain, empathize with their pain, cry with them. I should hear about the things that make them happy, the things they love, and the people they love. I should laugh with them, share their joys and sorrows with them. I should intentionally pursue and repair the friendships that I’ve let fall apart. I don’t need to have solutions for my friends’ problems. I need to just be there, even when – especially when – they haven’t been there for me. The love of Christ should shine through me. If I cannot show love to my friends, how can I show love to my enemies?

I am meant to live sacrificially in all areas of my life."

I think this stuck out so boldly to me is because that is what I desire my friendship to be.  I want to be a woman that my friends can truly trust.  Someone that can empathize with their pain and celebrate their victories.  I want to be a shoulder to cry on.  I want people to know they are important.  I love listening to what is on people's hearts, whether they are rejoicing or struggling. Rarely do I have advice, but I love to listen. I've realized that 

people often just want someone to listen, I pray that God will continue to give me a listening ear.   I believe that everybody wants to known in some way, many people just don't express that and I think that is often driven by fears and insecurities.  I want God to use me in such a way to break through those fears and insecurities to really know and understand people's hearts. 

 I pray right now that the Lord would bless me with compassion towards others.  My desire is for people to know that they are genuinely loved, not just by me but especially  by their Heavenly Father.  I want God to use me as a means to show His love to His children, His beloved ones, the broken, the hurting, the joyful, everybody!   I want to be a good friend, although I often fall short.  Right now, I desire in my heart more than anything, for God to use me to bless those around me and for His love to be revealed through me.  I am supposed to live a life of sacrifice, to put others' needs before my own.  I can really only do that through the Lord's grace, so I ask for Him to lessen me so that He may increase and be known.

On a side note: When I stop to think about the people that the Lord has brought into my life I am beyond  amazed.  I stand in awe of how much He delights in bringing His children together.  To all of my friends that reading this, YOU BLESS ME MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW!  Thank you!

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Lord, let me friendships be to glorify you, not myself.