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.

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Episode Transcript

Renee Richel (00:07):
Hi, I'm Renee Richel, the founder and
president of 1 True Match.
I'm here to help you find andcultivate the love of your life.
For over a decade, I'vededicated my life to the
importance, purpose and dynamicof human relationships.
My team and I are disciplinedby faith, love and integrity to
help our clients find thequality relationship they've

(00:28):
always dreamt of.
Each week, I will be sharingthe tools and tips I've learned
that have rooted my success as amatchmaker with other leaders
around the world.
Hello, loves, welcome back.
I am excited this week to talkabout building intentional
friendships.

(00:48):
As a Christian single, let'stalk about something we all need
good, solid friendships.
The kind of friendships thatmake you laugh until you cry,
pray for you when you'restruggling and remind you who
you are when life gets tough.

(01:09):
Because here's the truth yoursingle season isn't just about
preparing for a relationship.
It's about building a lifethat's full, joyful and rooted
in community.
Friendships are a huge part ofthat.
Real, meaningful and truefriendships don't just happen on

(01:31):
their own.
You have to be intentional tocreate them.
So today we're going to diveinto how to cultivate
friendships that actually enrichyour life, how to find
community in singleness and howto set boundaries in friendships
with the opposite sex, sothings don't get too confusing

(01:53):
or messy.
So grab your coffee, get cozyand let's talk about building
friendships that truly supportyour walk with the Lord.
One of the biggest lies aboutsingleness is that it's a lonely
season.
But can I tell you something?
It doesn't have to be.

(02:13):
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 thattime of singleness, those were
when I had the deepest, deepestconnections with so many of my

(02:35):
friends, because we had the timeto be able to do that.
Friendships godly intentionalfriendships are a gift.
Godly intentional friendshipsare a gift.
They are the people whoencourage us, challenge us and
walk with us in faith.
If you're in a season ofsingleness, this is your time to

(02:56):
build strong friendships thatwill not only enrich your life
but also strengthen yourrelationship with the Lord.
So the million dollar questionis how do we find that kind of
community?
Plug into your local church,get involved in small groups,
bible studies or young adultministries.

(03:17):
Friendships flourish in sharedfaith and fellowship.
Be intentional about meetingpeople.
Don't just wait for friendshipsto happen.
Take the first step.
Invite someone for coffee, stepInvite someone for coffee, join

(03:39):
a ministry or attend Christianevents.
I can't tell you how many timesI walk into any situation as
busy as I am, or even in theseason when you have the time,
with an open mind of curiosityto want to learn more about
someone, and vice versa, theyusually do the same back, which
that's all about investing infriendships that align with your

(03:59):
values.
Surround yourself with peoplewho lift you up, have a curious
mind of truly getting to knowyou and encourage your spiritual
growth, not distract you fromit.
When you cultivate friendshipsrooted in faith, singleness
doesn't feel like a waiting room.
It becomes a season of purpose,joy and growth.

(04:23):
If we're going to buildfriendships that truly enrich
our lives, we need to beintentional.
That means prioritizingfriendships that are mutual,
uplifting and centered in Christ.
Ask yourself do my friendshipsencourage my walk with the Lord?
Do my friends hold meaccountable in my faith?

(04:47):
Do they bring joy, wisdom andsupport into my life?
Strong, purposeful friendshipsrequire effort.
They require checking in,showing up and being present.
Friendships aren't just aboutfun moments.
They're about having people whowill pray for you, challenge
you and remind you of God'spromises when life gets tough.

(05:11):
And here's the beautiful thingwhen you prioritize friendships
like this, you're setting thesturdy foundation for healthy
relationships in every area ofyour life, including future
romantic relationships.
All right, let's talk aboutsomething that can be tricky

(05:32):
Friendships with the oppositesex.
Can men and women be friends?
Yes, but should there beboundaries?
Absolutely.
When friendships with theopposite sex aren't handled with
intentionality, they can leadto confusion, unmet expectations

(05:53):
or even emotional entanglementsthat blur the lines between
friendship and something more.
So how do we maintain healthyfriendships with the opposite
sex?
One be clear about intentions.
If feelings start to develop,be honest with yourself and the

(06:17):
other person.
Don't let a friendship turninto a confusing situation.
Two set emotional boundaries.
Sharing deep, intimatestruggles is something that
should be reserved forsame-gender friendships or a

(06:40):
future spouse.
Guard your heart, as Proverbs4: 23 reminds us.
3.
Be mindful of physicalboundaries.
Casual touching, one-on-one,late-night hangouts or deep
emotional conversations cancreate an intimacy that may lead

(07:01):
to temptation or confusion.
Four involve community.
Having mutual friends andstaying connected to a Christian
community helps keep thesefriendships healthy and
accountable.
At the end of the day,friendships with the opposite

(07:22):
sex should be built on respect,wisdom and an awareness of God's
design for relationships, ofGod's design for relationships.
If a friendship is causingconfusion or leading you away
from purity, it's worthreevaluating.
In conclusion, buildingintentional friendships is one

(07:44):
of the best things you can do inyour single season.
It's not about filling timeuntil a relationship comes.
It's about surrounding yourselfwith people who inspire,
encourage and walk alongside ofyou in faith.
Singleness is not a season toendure.

(08:05):
It is a season to embrace.
So my challenge for you thisweek is reach out to a friend,
invest in your community and askGod to bring the right
friendships into your life.
And if you have friendshipsthat need better boundaries,
take a step back today and setthem in place.

(08:28):
Thank you so much for joiningme on today's episode.
If this encouraged you, shareit with friends and don't forget
subscribe to listen to morefaith-based relationship talks
that we have.
Next week we are going to talkabout single and serving lessons
that changed everything.

(08:50):
Until then, I will keep you inmy prayers and hope you have a
fabulous, god-driven week, lotsof love, god bless.
It's been another great talk onthis episode of 1 True Talks by
Renee Richel.
I look forward to our next chat.

(09:11):
Please write in your questionsand comments so I can be sure to
talk about whatever it is youwant to discuss in our next
upcoming episode.
Lots of Love, God Bless, XOXO.