This verse was on my mind this week from the message we heard (watched) on Youtube this sunday - isn't it great how when you can't go to Church you can at least bring part of the church to you.
But it was discussing the verse that I've chosen for my memory verse this week, - 1 Corinthians 15:33 - and it really struck home with me. It has been a issue for me my whole life - choosing who I spend my time with, and the influence of some poor choices.
Recently I have made some decisions to spend less time with certain people, because I recognised that when I was with them I was gossiping and talking negatively about others, and I didn't want to do that.
It is difficult to talk about this topic sometimes without sounding elitist and like I'm looking down my nose at others who aren't as 'good' as me - but I want to make it clear that it's not that at all.
In the case of me gossiping too much, it wasn't the people I was with causing me to gossip - I was choosing to do that, and in some cases initiating it. But it was being with people that didn't discourage it, and would join in, that gave me a sense of freedom to say things I wouldn't say with other people.
So in many cases is not that others make us act in ways contrary to what we know God wants from us - it's often that what is permissable, allowable or approved with some people lets us act in different ways.
It is not to say you are meant to shun anyone - but think about who you are allowing close enough to have influence in your life.
If you are committed to walking with God, and living the life that he has set out for us, then it is much more beneficial to closely surround ourselves with people who point us in the right direction; people who have the same values and morals and beliefs as those we are aiming to live by; people who won't pull away from where we want to be, but will pull us up when we stray.
Thank you for once again sharing your Godly words Jessie, and uplifting the readers of your blog to live a life focused on God.
ReplyDeleteI struggle with how to begin getting away from friends that are bad company and how to deal with the process of cutting ties with them.
Despite my greatest efforts to be compassionate and sensitive to the feelings of the people I have decided to no longer be friends with, they feel 'traded' This makes me feel sad and that I am an unkind person. I called these people friends at one point in my life; as much as I want to continue calling them a friend,they lead me away from God. I must keep my distance from them. This process of cutting ties with these people feels like I am going through multiple friendship divorces-granted they are divorces for God justified reasons-nonetheless, the emotional effect is overwhelming because I dont want to hurt anyone in any way. These people are good people but they lead me away from God and I must want to follow God's word.
I understand compltely what you are saying Maria. I have had many different groups of friends since I left high school and they have been from a wide range of backgrounds and I have been friends with them for different reasons. Often it has been because we have had things in common for short amounts of time and so we have got along well but after that thing has finished, I realise just how different we are. And i see myself acting different around them to keep trying to fit in. I think its hard to admit to yourself sometimes that your friends aren't what you would hope because I know i feel sensitive about saying that because it makes me feel like I have chosen the wrong people.
ReplyDeleteI'm really looknig forward to finding a church that we can attend regualrly so that I can get a solid group of christian friends who have the same values as me and so that I do not feel like the odd one out.
We are sisters in Christ Cottee,and we are both together in this journey of following God's word.
ReplyDeleteI will pray for you to find the right Church for you and your family.
In faith,
Maria
I understand compltely what you are saying Maria. I have had many different groups of friends since I left high school and they have been from a wide range of backgrounds and I have been friends with them for different reasons. Often it has been because we have had things in common for short amounts of time and so we have got along well but after that thing has finished, I realise just how different we are. And i see myself acting different around them to keep trying to fit in. I think its hard to admit to yourself sometimes that your friends aren't what you would hope because I know i feel sensitive about saying that because it makes me feel like I have chosen the wrong people.
ReplyDeleteI'm really looknig forward to finding a church that we can attend regualrly so that I can get a solid group of christian friends who have the same values as me and so that I do not feel like the odd one out.