1 True Talks
1 True Talks
Building Intentional Friendship as a Christian Single
Can men and women maintain genuine friendships without complications? Unravel this timeless question as we discuss the art of building intentional friendships for Christian singles. This episode challenges the notion that singleness equates to loneliness, offering instead a perspective of growth and abundant community. Renee shares her insights on nurturing friendships that align with your faith and values, turning your single season into one rich with purpose and joy.
Join Renee as she offers practical steps for creating a supportive circle, from engaging with your local church to setting healthy boundaries in friendships with the opposite sex. Discover how these intentional relationships can uplift your spiritual journey and lay a strong foundation for future romantic relationships. By prioritizing friendships that encourage accountability, wisdom, and joy, you're not just enriching your life but also deepening your walk with the Lord. Get comfortable, grab your coffee, and embrace the journey of cultivating friendships that truly matter.
Hi, I'm Renee Richel, the founder and president of 1 True Match. I'm here to help you find and cultivate the love of your life. For over a decade, I've dedicated my life to the importance, purpose and dynamic of human relationships. My team and I are disciplined by faith, love and integrity to help our clients find the quality relationship they've always dreamt of. Each week, I will be sharing the tools and tips I've learned that have rooted my success as a matchmaker with other leaders around the world. Hello, loves, welcome back.
Renee Richel:I am excited this week to talk about building intentional friendships. As a Christian single, let's talk about something we all need good, solid friendships. The kind of friendships that make you laugh until you cry, pray for you when you're struggling and remind you who you are when life gets tough. Because here's the truth your single season isn't just about preparing for a relationship. It's about building a life that's full, joyful and rooted in community. Friendships are a huge part of that. Real, meaningful and true friendships don't just happen on their own. You have to be intentional to create them. So today we're going to dive into how to cultivate friendships that actually enrich your life, how to find community in singleness and how to set boundaries in friendships with the opposite sex, so things don't get too confusing or messy. So grab your coffee, get cozy and let's talk about building friendships that truly support your walk with the Lord.
Renee Richel:One of the biggest lies about singleness is that it's a lonely season. But can I tell you something? It doesn't have to be. God created us for community. In fact, Proverbs 27:17 says "as iron shapes iron, so one person shapes another. I'm telling you, during that time of singleness, those were when I had the deepest, deepest connections with so many of my friends, because we had the time to be able to do that. Friendships godly intentional friendships are a gift. Godly intentional friendships are a gift. They are the people who encourage us, challenge us and walk with us in faith. If you're in a season of singleness, this is your time to build strong friendships that will not only enrich your life but also strengthen your relationship with the Lord. So the million dollar question is how do we find that kind of community? Plug into your local church, get involved in small groups, bible studies or young adult ministries.
Renee Richel:Friendships flourish in shared faith and fellowship. Be intentional about meeting people. Don't just wait for friendships to happen. Take the first step. Invite someone for coffee, step Invite someone for coffee, join a ministry or attend Christian events.
Renee Richel:I can't tell you how many times I walk into any situation as busy as I am, or even in the season when you have the time, with an open mind of curiosity to want to learn more about someone, and vice versa, they usually do the same back, which that's all about investing in friendships that align with your values. Surround yourself with people who lift you up, have a curious mind of truly getting to know you and encourage your spiritual growth, not distract you from it. When you cultivate friendships rooted in faith, singleness doesn't feel like a waiting room. It becomes a season of purpose, joy and growth. If we're going to build friendships that truly enrich our lives, we need to be intentional. That means prioritizing friendships that are mutual, uplifting and centered in Christ. Ask yourself do my friendships encourage my walk with the Lord? Do my friends hold me accountable in my faith? Do they bring joy, wisdom and support into my life? Strong, purposeful friendships require effort. They require checking in, showing up and being present. Friendships aren't just about fun moments. They're about having people who will pray for you, challenge you and remind you of God's promises when life gets tough. And here's the beautiful thing when you prioritize friendships like this, you're setting the sturdy foundation for healthy relationships in every area of your life, including future romantic relationships.
Renee Richel:All right, let's talk about something that can be tricky Friendships with the opposite sex. Can men and women be friends? Yes, but should there be boundaries? Absolutely. When friendships with the opposite sex aren't handled with intentionality, they can lead to confusion, unmet expectations or even emotional entanglements that blur the lines between friendship and something more. So how do we maintain healthy friendships with the opposite sex? One be clear about intentions. If feelings start to develop, be honest with yourself and the other person. Don't let a friendship turn into a confusing situation. Two set emotional boundaries. Sharing deep, intimate struggles is something that should be reserved for same-gender friendships or a future spouse. Guard your heart, as Proverbs 4: 23 reminds us. 3. Be mindful of physical boundaries. Casual touching, one-on-one, late-night hangouts or deep emotional conversations can create an intimacy that may lead to temptation or confusion.
Renee Richel:Four involve community. Having mutual friends and staying connected to a Christian community helps keep these friendships healthy and accountable. At the end of the day, friendships with the opposite sex should be built on respect, wisdom and an awareness of God's design for relationships, of God's design for relationships. If a friendship is causing confusion or leading you away from purity, it's worth reevaluating. In conclusion, building intentional friendships is one of the best things you can do in your single season. It's not about filling time until a relationship comes. It's about surrounding yourself with people who inspire, encourage and walk alongside of you in faith.
Renee Richel:Singleness is not a season to endure. It is a season to embrace. So my challenge for you this week is reach out to a friend, invest in your community and ask God to bring the right friendships into your life. And if you have friendships that need better boundaries, take a step back today and set them in place. Thank you so much for joining me on today's episode. If this encouraged you, share it with friends and don't forget subscribe to listen to more faith-based relationship talks that we have. Next week we are going to talk about single and serving lessons that changed everything. Until then, I will keep you in my prayers and hope you have a fabulous, god-driven week, lots of love, god bless. It's been another great talk on this episode of 1 True Talks by Renee Richel. I look forward to our next chat. Please write in your questions and comments so I can be sure to talk about whatever it is you want to discuss in our next upcoming episode. Lots of Love, God Bless, XOXO.