Pursuing Conversation

Do you often get scared about getting deep in conversation? Especially with friends or acquaintances who have known forever and who it is sort of assumed you don’t talk about things with them?

How do you get there? How do you share wisdom? How do you express your faith in conversations? Are your conversations genuine, are you caring for your friends by loving them with good chats? Do the conversations with friends and family show you really do value them, worry for them, or want to see them flourish?

How do you do it if you aren’t having conversations with them? Spend time with people and share your own life, share your fears and dreams, ask your friends questions of perception …

• Why do you want to go overseas on holidays?
• What was the deciding factor to taking that job over the other one?
• How come your mother-in-law frustrate you so much?
• You are so busy, where are you getting your energy from?

These are just a few easy examples… the more you know your friends, the more perceptive you will be and know what is bothering them, what is really making them happy. And be aware about the trials and temptations your friends are going through. Everyone, Christian or not goes through struggles and suffering.

To the friend you know struggles with their sex life (regardless of their faith stance)… ask him “How is your sex life going? Has it improved? What is the most worrying thing about it?”

Does the worry your friends go through worry you?

To the friend who out of her 4 closest friends is the only one single… ask if it is hard? Has it changed the shape of those friendships?

Does the loneliness your friend battles fill you with compassion?

To the the friend whose little sister has been knocked up… ask how he feels about that? Is he protective? Is he concerned for the decisions she needs to make?

Do you love your friends enough to be concerned for the wellbeing of their family?

Ask about your friends and families lives – care for them… please do not see your family and friends as a task but love that you do actually genuinely care about them and the things that worry and scare them.

Who knows you may be used to share love, offer advice, be a shoulder to cry on, a friend to help out and perhaps even have the chance to share the soothing peace and joy of the gospel?