Firm Foundations | Sacred Spaces: Cultivating Friendship That Honours God

Some people aren’t bad—they’re just not your assignment. Let God sort your circle.”

Opening Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the gift of friendship. You are our Best Friend and we love You for who You are to us - our All in All. Teach us today Lord Jesus to cultivate relationships that honour You, build us up in faith, and create sacred spaces where trust and encouragement thrive. Show us who belongs in our inner circle, and give us wisdom to love all but walk closely with the right few. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Can any and every one enter every part of your house? Or does your house have spaces that not everyone can enter?

The kitchen might be open to visitors, but the bedroom is reserved for the closest family. Correct?

Friendships are similar. You can be kind and welcoming to many, but your inner circle must be sacred — a place where only trusted, God-aligned people are allowed.

Jesus modeled this perfectly. 

Although He ministered to multitudes and had many followers, He often drew away with just Peter, James, and John, as we see in Mark 5:37 and Matthew 17:1. 

Was this favouritism? Or was this wisdom? 

The answer lies in understanding that intimacy in relationships isn’t about exclusion, but about stewardship—knowing who is equipped to share in certain moments.  Sacred spaces require discernment.

Proverbs 27:17 (ESV) says:“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

If we want to grow in faith, our closest friends must challenge us toward God’s will, not away from it. 

A sacred space in friendship is a spiritual greenhouse — a place where truth, prayer, and encouragement cause both people to flourish.

But too often, Family, we keep everyone in every room of our lives — even when God is nudging us to rearrange the furniture. 

If we examine our friendships, we may find that while there are some loving people around us, they do not really fuel our growth or breathe life into our walk with Christ.

Others may be fun but pull us off mission. 

Now, it doesn’t mean those people are bad — it just means they’re not assigned to your inner circle.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 (NIV) reminds us:“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”

If your “two” isn’t helping you up spiritually, they might not be the right fit for your sacred space.

Sacred spaces require trust. What’s prayed about there stays there. Sacred spaces require honesty. Truth is spoken in love, even when it’s uncomfortable. And sacred spaces require prayer. If your closest circle isn’t praying for you and with you, the walls of that sacred space are unprotected.

How do we build these friendships? 

Well, for one, it takes intentionality. We have to pray for God to send people who will sharpen us, speak truth to us, and stand by us when our faith is tested. And when He sends them, protect that space. Don’t let gossip, offense, or pride weaken the foundation.

Family, when we guard our sacred spaces, we are safeguarding the foundation on which our relationships stand. 

A firm foundation is not built by accident—it is the result of intentional choices, godly boundaries, and the courage to keep Christ at the center. 

The people God sends to walk closely with us are part of that structure, supporting and strengthening us when life shakes our faith. 

Gossip, jealousy, malice, and unforgiveness have no place in the walls God is building around those relationships. They erode trust, weaken unity, and create cracks in what should be unshakable. I think we say they are termites.

So, if we want to build healthy and godly friendships, we have to do everything reasonably possible to protect those sacred spaces with prayer, wisdom, and humility. That way, every relationship we have will become a testament to God’s design and glory.

Closing Prayer:

Father, we dedicate our friendships to You right now, once again. Help us build sacred spaces that reflect Your love, truth, and holiness. Give us the courage to reposition relationships that don’t belong in our inner circle and the grace to nurture the ones that do. May every friendship in our lives honour You. In Jesus’ name, amen.