We went to Fargo yesterday because Jeff had an appointment at the VA hospital. For months now he has had a knot on his head. It just appeared there one day. The doctors here felt that it needed to be looked at by specialist ~ so that was why we were in Fargo.
After a 1 hour appointment and a 1 hour surgery he now has 17 stitches in his head and the knot has been removed. They tell us is was a fatty tumor (and I jokingly tell him that means for months he was a fathead!!)
Does It Matter Who Our Friends Are?
As a Christian I have been taught by many godly people to take inventory of my life from time to time. It has been a valuable practice to keep my spiritual life, priorities and my home in order.
A few months ago God added a segment of my life that I have not seen the need to take inventory of...my friends and intended family members. By not examining this area of my life before I had made my life more difficult/stressful because I had let people negatively affect me in various ways.
It was a tough truth to come to grips with. Actually, I’m still working on implementing it. It is hard to admit that I have family members who do not want to see me happy. They would rather be negative and mean ~ in other words, a bad influence on me.
How important is it to choose the people we surround ourselves with. People who will lift us up and make us better persons. This isn't just a personal preference, it is a Biblical principle.
The Bible tells us that we get to decide whether we'll walk with the wise or stumble with fools. The question for us is which will we choose?
Proverbs 13:20: "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."
I have had to spend some considerable time with the Lord to understand my responsibility for the stress I have allowed people to add to my life by not setting boundaries. It has, and continues to be a tough lesson...to realize the wrong people in my life can actually mar me and even break me.
When I talked to my husband about this he pointed out that I am frazzled and a tad grumpy after I’m around, or have had a phone conversation with, ___________. I know he is right. This is partly true because I kick myself for not putting a stop to it.
I cannot begin to convey how God has talked to me about this...me the person people always turn to when they need advice and encouragement.
What impact have your friends had on you lately?
This might sound like a strange question, but your friends HAVE influenced you--for better or for worse--more than you think.
Does it really matter which people you choose to surround yourelf with? After all, shouldn't a Christian be willing to have anyone around as a friend? Some argue that Christians should invite everyone into their circle of friends since Jesus Christ was inclusive during His earthly ministry.
This belief seems appealing on its surface, but there is more to the issue than meets the eye. Proverbs 13:20 instructs us that to befriend foolish people will bring harm to our lives. On the other hand, seeking out wise friends who live right will bring about blessings. Proverbs 1:10-16 and Psalms 1:1-3 provides a strong warning against befriending those who engage in sinful lifestyles and are not right with God...including scornful/negative people.
We are not even to walk on their paths but rather turn away from them and walk the other way. And for doing so God says He will bless us.
Psalm 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
Paul said this in 1 Corinthians 15:33 ~~ "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners."
These scriptures and others indicate that in order to do well, be happy and obey God, we must choose good godfearing friends and avoid negative, scornful and immoral people.
Do our friends sharpen us as iron sharpeneth iron...or do they dull our ‘blade’ and cause us to be less effective instruments for God’s will?
1 comment:
Praise the Lord is was only a fatty tumor, and yes you have the right to "fat head" every once in a while. My DH also had one of those but it didn't have to be surgically removed but he has one of his shoulder that he may have to have removed, did they say what causes them?
Also thats the the good devotion, appreciated that! *Ü*
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