A car pulls up next to me, and a lady gets out of the car. She walks up to the pump and says, "I don't believe this." She then starts walking around the gas station looking for the attendant. She finally finds him and asks him for assistance. As he is offering help, she says.
"I can't believe how this day is going, it is going to be a horrible day."
I'm thinking, "It's only 10 am lady, you can still turn this around." Then she goes on and on how she bought some cupcakes. But they were not exactly what she wanted. Then she put them in the car, and one of them turned over and on and on and on and on.
I got in the car, closed the door and took a deep breath. There was no way that this lady was going to ruin my day.
Proverbs 10:17 Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
You have probably already heard this wisdom, but I will share it with you anyway. "If you want to soar with eagles, stop hanging out with turkeys." Or something like that. People influence your behavior and your decisions. What you watch on TV and the internet impacts your attitude. The 5 people you hang out with the most influence your life.
A few years ago a young husband came to my office to ask for my counsel. His wife of 2 years was divorcing him, and he wanted to know what he could do to save his marriage. So I asked him why she was divorcing him? His response was, "She says that I'm never home and that I don't pay enough attention to her. That I drink too much and that I don't help around the house."
"Ok," I said, "tell me what your average day looks like." He tells me that he gets up, goes to work, goes out with this friends drinking and comes home late. Then on the weekends he gets up, goes out with his friends and comes back late Sunday night.
At this point, I ask. "Let me guess. Your buddies are all divorced, and they are telling you to divorce her too." He responds, "Yea! How did you know?"
In the end, it was too little too late. But this story makes for a great illustration.
People have a profound impact on you. Be careful who you let speak into your life. Be careful who you watch and emulate. Be careful to choose friends who will encourage you and impart wisdom. Otherwise, you will be led away from success, a great life, a great marriage, and a great future.
PRAY: Dear Jesus, show me who I should be surrounding myself with. Allow people who will speak knowledge and wisdom into my life. AMEN
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