Live Like Devotional Series for Young People: DanielSample

Day 5: FAITHFUL FRIENDSHIPS

📖 Scripture: Proverbs 13:20

Devotion: The Importance of Choosing the Right Friends

Proverbs 13:20 tells us something powerful about the company we keep:

“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
— Proverbs 13:20 (NIV)

It’s easy to think that walking with foolish people just makes you foolish, right? But the verse says something even more serious: walking with fools DESTROYS you. Wow. This shows just how important it is to choose friends who will encourage us to grow, not pull us down.

Daniel’s life is a great example of the value of faithful friendships. Let’s take a closer look at what we can learn from the friends Daniel chose—and the kind of friend we should aim to be.

1. Friends Who Share Your Values

In Daniel 1, we meet Daniel and his friends. It’s not clear if they were close friends before they were taken captive to Babylon, but they all had qualities that made them stand out: they were strong, smart, well-educated, and disciplined. They all shared common values and goals.

Our friends should share our values and help us stick to what’s right, especially when things get tough. When Daniel decided not to defile himself with the king’s food, he didn’t just make that choice alone. He asked his friends to stand with him and be tested too. They were committed to the same values and willing to go against the grain with him.

2. Friends Who Stand Together

We see this same group of friends again in Daniel 3, when they refuse to bow down to the golden statue. Despite the pressure, they stayed true to their beliefs. Like Daniel, they were determined and persistent in doing what was right, no matter the consequences.

True friends don’t just stand with you when it’s easy—they support you when it’s hard and help you stay strong in your faith.

3. Friends Who Pray With You

When Daniel faced a difficult situation—he needed God’s help to interpret the king’s dream—he didn’t face it alone. He shared his problem with his friends and asked them to pray for him. Friends who pray for you and with you are priceless. When we face challenges, having friends who can intercede on our behalf is a huge blessing.

And when God answered their prayers, Daniel didn’t forget about his friends. He asked for them to be promoted and rewarded as well. Not only did Daniel choose faithful friends, but he was also a faithful friend in return.

💭 Reflection Questions

• Who are the people in your life who encourage you to stay strong in your faith?
• Are there friends who share your values and help you make good choices?
• Are you the kind of friend who prays for others and is there for them when they need it?

🙏 Prayer

Lord,
Help me to choose friends who encourage me to grow in You and who share my values. May I also be a faithful friend, willing to stand with others through thick and thin. Teach me to pray for my friends and to support them just as Daniel did. May I always walk in the counsel of the wise and be a light to those around me.
Amen.

✍️ Journaling Prompt

• Think about the friends you have right now. Do they help you grow in your faith and values? Write down one way you can strengthen those friendships.
• If you’re struggling with any friendships, how can you be a better, more faithful friend? Write a prayer asking God for guidance in your friendships.

🔑 Key Verse

“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
— Proverbs 13:20 (NIV)

Has this devotional blessed you?

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