Choosing Godly Friends – Why Your Crew Matters

June 2nd, 2025

Our GBFC Youth and Young Adults take over our Devotionals for the Month of June and we look forward to the exhortation they will share. Please make sure to leave a word of encouragement in the comment section-it only takes a minute.

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

Think about your closest friends. Do they encourage you? Do they build you up—or tear you down? Friends are a huge part of life, especially in middle school. They can either help you grow in your faith or pull you away from it.

Imagine this: you’re climbing a mountain. Would you rather climb with someone who knows the way and helps you up, or with someone who keeps slipping and pulling you down? That’s what friendships can be like. The people you hang out with the most will affect the way you talk, think, and act.

God wants us to choose friends who are wise, kind, and love Him. That doesn’t mean we can’t be friends with people who believe differently—but our closest crew, the ones we trust and follow, should help us become more like Jesus.

Real Talk:

Do your closest friends help you make good choices?
Are you being a godly friend to others?
Is there someone who might not be a good influence right now?

Try This:

List 3 friends you spend the most time with.
Ask yourself: Do these friendships help me grow closer to God or farther away?
Pray and ask God to help you be a godly friend and bring good friends into your life.

PRAYER: God, thank You for the gift of friendship. Help me choose friends who will help me walk closer to You. Show me how to be a wise and loving friend too. Amen.
By Bro. Shane Brown

10 Comments

Add Your Comment

Toni Lawson - June 2nd, 2025 at 6:14am

Amen, Bro Shane. So true & wise words for my own self examination. Thank you for letting the Lord use you.

Sentka - June 2nd, 2025 at 6:34am

Amen. Good encouragement reminding us to watch our company.

Debbie Whye - June 2nd, 2025 at 6:40am

Amen! ?. Thank you for this encouraging devotional brother Shane!

D.T. Diggs - June 2nd, 2025 at 7:56am

Amen! It's far more likely for an upright soul to be pulled down by poor friendship choices than the other way around--no matter your age. Employ great discretion.

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Paula S. - June 2nd, 2025 at 8:08am

Amen Bro. Shane. Ummm!!Where was this template when I was 9? To God be the glory for His wisdom and instruction to our Bro. Shane and to us. God bless young man.

Cheryl Torain - June 2nd, 2025 at 8:36am

Praise the Lord Bro. Shane for being an instrument that the Lord can teach and help you to teach others!!!

Wendy - June 2nd, 2025 at 8:57pm

Amen, Bro Shane . Make a conscious effort to surround your self,with people pursuing a life that honors God !!

Val Tomlin - June 3rd, 2025 at 4:51am

This is such a blessing Shane! Thank you! I love your example, it definitely moved my spirit! I'm not surprised you produced this because you have such a cautious spirit. AMEN!

Deacon McNeal - June 4th, 2025 at 6:19pm

Bro. Shane, thank you for this very thoughtful devotional. A grace message expressed in a lawyer-ly way, yet very user friendly. We all will have a rocky road to walk at times, but going barefoot is a choice. Shoe up with 'good' friends.

Pat Towns - June 6th, 2025 at 5:29am

Amen! Great wisdom. Very thoughtful and insightful. It definitely made me think about my crew!