Friendship- Are your friends the right ones for you?

Hello, guys hope everyone is good and that you have had a productive day, Today's topic is Friendship and are your friends the right ones for you?

Friendship is something we come across in everyday life, you meet new people at work, at school, at university and maybe even on the bus and they may become your friends, some friendships can last for 2-3 years, others 4-5 and some even 10 years+, but the questions is are we choosing our friends wisely.

A Wiseman once said "Show me your friends, and I will tell you who you are" in some situations I may agree with this statement but in others I won't.

In secondary school I had a friend who wasn't the best-behaved student, and she was seen as bad company to be around, however, I never saw her as that, I saw her in a different view than others did and I was always told not to hang around that person by many teachers and also my parents.

I had the mentality that just because my friend is bad it doesn't mean that I am also going to be bad, and that's what I always tried to explain to my parents but since they are African, there really isn't much that you could say that would change their minds, once they have made up their minds they ain't changing it.

Despite all the warnings that they gave me regarding my friend, I didn't listen I saw something different about her, I believed that by her having my company she could change to be a better person despite all the negative things people have said about her.

Up to today me and her are friends because I believed that she would be a better person, and I don't regret one bit of not listening to my parents because I believe that God sends people into our lives, to help us mature and have an impact on us, there are so many things that you could learn from people and them from you.

I always brag about this but it is that important to me, God has given you a purpose and person that comes into your life has a purpose, whether it will negatively impact your life or positively, either way, you are learning something as it goes on.

It is important that we value and cherish the friends that are in our lives, some may be God sent while others could be Satan trying to test us and I have come across many situations like that.

Me I take my friendships very seriously once you become my friend you are apart of my life and I really put my love and trust into that person so when they turn out not to be the kind and lovely friend that I thought they were it really hurts me because I believed that a person would add value to my life, and this is way many people tend to say that you shouldn't " Wear your heart on your sleeve" because you don't know how many people are really there for you and those that don't mean well for you. Do we come across many situations where we wonder who the right friends are for us?

The Bible states in Proverbs 22:24-25 "Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared".

Many people come across friendships like that, they are not aware of the company that they are keeping, and they may become friends with hot-tempered people and they may get influenced by their behaviour so they may start behaving like them so that they could fit in. Many individuals are victims of this and it takes an outsider to let them know that the company that they are keeping is not good for them and it is not having a positive impact on them.

When we form friendships we have to ask ourselves, would this person's friendship help me/strengthen me and guide me to get a better relationship with God? If you find yourself finding it hard to answer that questions then you would have to re-evaluate your friendship with that person, because each friend that you make has to help you spiritually and they also have to be your support system and help you to succeed and reach your goals. If they don't do that then I think it's time to burn their bridge (meaning that you don't want their friendship anymore).

It may sound selfish but sometimes you have to think about yourself and how that person is going to have an impact in your life, and whether that friendship is helping you with your walk with Christ.

Before I leave you guys, I just want everyone to know that your friends make up who you are, but you have to be careful that the friends you make are the right ones and that they are there to be your friends and your support system.

If in any given situation you feel some type of way about your friends and the company that you keep, Pray to God, and ask him, Lord, I pray and commit my friends into your hands, may you use them as a vessel to have an impact in the life of their friends and loved ones, may you shine through them and may they be used to strengthen me, motivate me, encourage me to be the best that I am, I pray and commit them into your hands, may you protect them and guide them and may they seek you in times of needs, In Jesus Name I Pray, Amen A simple prayer could have such as big impact in their lives.

These are some quotations which I found really interesting and helpful regarding Friendships, Hope you guys enjoyed and Don't Forget to share, share

Proverbs 18:24

Proverbs 22:24-25

Proverbs 13:20

Proverbs 27:5-6

Proverbs 12:26

Proverbs 14:6-7

Proverbs 11:14

Proverbs 17:17

Proverbs 19:20

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

John 15:12-15