Who are you walking with?

A Spanish proverb says: Tell me who you walk with, and I’ll tell you who you are. That is actually very close to what the scriptures say. Proverbs 13:20 (ERV) says: “Be friends with those who are wise, and you will become wise. Choose fools to be your friends, and you will have trouble.” We do not have the power to choose our biological family, but we have the power to chose our friends. I remember when I first became a pastor, I realized that I needed to learn a lot more than just theory. So I began to gather with established pastors and bishops. I went to where they were. I even went to closed meetings without permission, but since I was really hungry to spend time with wise, experienced pastors, I took the chance of being rejected and thrown out. To my surprise, they allowed me to be part of their gatherings. I have to tell you that it was one of the best decisions that I ever made. I learned so much in those years, just by spending time with wise men and women. Are you purposely seeking out “wise” friends? Do your friend make you wiser, or are you the smartest one in the room? If you are the smartest one in the room, you need to change that. You can’t learn anything if you don’t challenge yourself by purposely gathering with those that are already living and serving successfully in the place where you desire to be one day be. Make an assessment today of your “friends and associates,” and if you are in the company of fools, run out of there and get new friends and associates. Remember, hanging out with fools will get you in trouble, but spending time with those who are wise, will cause you to become wise yourself.

Proverbs 13:20 (ERV) says: Be friends with those who are wise, and you will become wise. Choose fools to be your friends, and you will have trouble.

This is how to be blessed by God!

Psalm 94:12 (AMP) says: Blessed [with wisdom and prosperity] is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, And whom You teach from Your law.” The word blessed means: “joyful, contentment, good fortune, consecrated, to speak well of.” When God blesses us, He is lovingly sharing his grace, wisdom and favor with us. He bestows upon us an environment where others look at us and declare that we have come in to a place of good fortune. Do you want to be “blessed?” Read Psalm 94:12 again. God blesses the person who submits to His discipline and instruction. Most people reject His discipline and instruction, thus they remove themselves from the process of being blessed by God. When one enlists in the army, the first thing the drill sergeants do is re-make them by putting them in a place of discipline and instruction for several months. Most admit that this process is very difficult. But the finished picture is that they become disciplined, battle-ready soldiers! God also brings us into times of discipline and instruction, not to destroy us, but to build us up into strong and blessed believers. He teaches us His law so that we can walk wisely and confidently on this earth. And as we embrace His discipline and instruction, people will look at our lives and call us blessed! Do not be afraid to embrace His discipline and instruction. He disciplines the ones He loves.

Psalm 94:12 (AMP) “Blessed [with wisdom and prosperity] is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, And whom You teach from Your law”