Show Me Your Friends

This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, with a mini-series within it entitled “Focusing on the Word”.  Yesterday I introduced you to the first half of the first psalm.  Today we will start working our way through the passage.  The Bible says:  

(Psalm 1:1-3 KJV) “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.”

(Psalm 1:1-3 ERV) “Great blessings belong to those who don’t listen to evil advice, who don’t live like sinners, and who don’t join those who make fun of God.  Instead, they love the Lord’s teachings and think about them day and night.  So they grow strong, like a tree planted by a stream—a tree that produces fruit when it should and has leaves that never fall.  Everything they do is successful.”

Today we will focus in on the line: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly”, or “Great blessings belong to those who don’t listen to evil advice.”

So what does this mean to you today?  Tomorrow I will focus on the “evil advice” portion.  For today I will focus on surrounding yourself with the right people, so you can hear the right things.

1.  You have to very careful who you listen to you.  This is one of the major reasons why you must pick your friends wisely.  When you are around friends influence will take place.  Either you will influence them or they will influence you, but rest assured, influence will occur.  Who are you being influenced by?

2.  Solomon taught us that if we associate with the wise, we will become wise ourselves.  However, if we associate with fools, we will become foolish.  Both wisdom and foolishness are transferred by association (Prov 13:20).

3.  Paul said, “Don’t be fooled: Bad friends will ruin good habits” (1 Cor 15:33).  That’s about as plain as it can be.

4.  If you surround yourself with the wrong people you will inevitably become the wrong person.  My mother always said, “Show me who you hang with and I will tell you who you are.”  Another way to say it is, “Show me your friends and I will show you your future.”

5.  When you carefully select those you will purposefully surround yourself with you are protecting your anointing.  If you value what God is doing in your life, you will protect it by refusing to connect with those who may contaminate it.

Closing Confession:   Father, this is a season of refined focus for me.  This year I am determined to live my life with laser-like focus.  I will be thoughtful, prayerful, careful and purposeful in all I do.  You only give ONE LIFE.  I am determined to make the most of the one You have given me.  I refuse to waste time on the wrong people or the wrong things.  I am led of Your Spirit and I am purpose-driven this year, like never before.  I surround myself with wise people and their wisdom is transferred by association.  I connect with those who are already where I want to be.  My association sharpens me and draws higher and deeper in You.  I connect with the right people, so I can hear the right things, and continue to become the right person.  I protect Your anointing on my life and I refuse to contaminate it by connecting with the wrong people.  Living this way I will maximize my purpose and potential in 2016 and I will arrive at Your overall expected end for my life!  I declare this by faith!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.