Ever hung around a person who did nothing but deteriorated you? What I mean is this person made your life worse by slowly draining the life from you. They decreased your joy and eroded your desire to succeed by constantly having something negative to say; they were dream killers, goal busters, and “Debbie-downers”. These kinds of people have no hope, no dreams, and no goals in life for themselves. The future, in their minds, was bleak and nonexistence because they aspired to do nothing, be nobody, and go nowhere. Since they had that mentality, their words, attitudes, actions, and presence brought down everyone around them. Why be in the company of such people? ….unless, our level of thinking is equivalent to theirs.
I do believe that we are the company that we keep. If I hang around individuals who don’t believe in doing better or becoming a new and improve YOU, eventually, I will acquire that same absurd mindset. Instead of pursuing growth in spirit (my relationship with Christ), wisdom, health, and prosperity, I’ll be satisfied with living a humdrum life with no progress as an individual and as a Believer in the Kingdom of God. Yep, with that attitude, we’ll be content being in that exact place for the rest of our lives. However, in our late golden years where wisdom should have kicked in, we’ll be lying in our bed of sorrow asking this question, “Why didn’t I do__________________?” (You fill in the blank). By then, it may be too late.
Yesterday, the Lord spoke with me about friendships. And most times, when I don’t allow my embarrassment and stubbornness to have control, I enjoy sharing God’s Words of wisdom to you, in hopes you’ll share them with someone else. So throughout the day on Wednesday, I posted scriptures about friendships on social media. And today the Lord hit me with this passage:
Now, that’s deep. (I love The Message version!) Throughout the Bible, the Lord gives us numerous principles for living out our days to the fullest. For this reason, He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to give us an abundant life (John 10:10). Jesus died so that we would live. Consequently, God doesn’t want us to be imprudent, making silly decisions, living foolishly, and hanging around fools. Our great Father wants us to keep company with the wise –- one who doesn’t mind sharing their knowledge, insights, and experiences with us. God has called us to yoke up with individuals who will build us up and not break us down. And as they encourage us, He wants us to pass that encouragement on to someone else (2 Cor. 1:4).
Therefore, my sister, let’s walk with and hang around godly people who will empower us to excel (for the right reason!), inspire us to achieve any goal, and motivate us to glorify God in the process. Amen.
Happy Thursday! Let’s walk in freedom together remembering iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17).
ENCOURAGING YOU TO WALK IN FREEDOM! ™
*Originally posted 11/20/14
Rhovonda L. Brown is speaker and author of two bestsellers, Walking in Freedom!: A Thirty-Day Devotional Journey for Women and At Least Say, “Thank You!”: An 8-Day Devotional Plan for a Grateful Heart.
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