Misery wants your company. But, you don’t have to let it in the door. In Proverbs 27:19 (TLB) we read, “A mirror reflects a man’s face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses.” Proverbs 13:20 tells us, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” We become like those with whom we associate.
We need to be careful of the kind of insulation we use in our lives. We need to insulate ourselves from negative people and ideas. But we should never insulate ourselves from Godly counsel and wisdom.
A number of years ago I found myself at a stagnation point of my life. I was unproductive and unable to see God’s direction clearly. One I noticed that almost all of my friends were in the same situation. When we got together, our problems were all we talked about. As I prayed about this matter, God showed me that I needed “foundation-level” people in my life. Such people bring out the best in us and influence us to become better people. They cause us to have greater faith and confidence and to see things from God’s perspective. After being with them, our spirits and our insights are raised.
I have found that it is better to be alone than in the wrong company. A single conversation with the right person can be more valuable than years of study.
The Lord showed me that I needed to change my closest associations, and that I needed to have contact with the right people on a regular basis. These were men of strong faith, people who made a better person when I was around them. They were the ones who saw the gifts in me and could correct me in a constructive, loving way. My choice to change my closest associations was a turning point of my life.
When you surround yourself with the right kind of people, you enter into God-ordained power of agreement. Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-10,12 (TLB)
You need to steer clear of negative-thinking experts. Remember: in the eyes of average people, average is always considered outstanding. Look carefully at your closest associations, because it’s an indication of the direction you’re heading.
