Who Are You Hanging With!!!

3 John 1:11:  "Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.  Anyone who does what is good is from God.  Anyone who does what is evil has not see God."

What a powerful Word that has been given to us!  My dear friend quoted on facebook this morning, "With whom you surround yourself, is who you soon become."  I thought this was wonderful advice.  Then when I opened my Bible this morning it was on 3 John, chapter, and the first verse I saw was the one above.  I knew without a doubt that God was speaking to me.

Yes, it is very true that we need to do what is good and hang with others that will instill this in us.  However, over the course of my life, many times I have fret and cried with hurt when others left me out, even family members.  The spirit of rejection has haunted me for years, because I have always wanted everyone to like me.  Recently, God has been showing me that He often times weeds people from my life so that I do not fall from Him and His calling on my life.  It has helped to me realize that God truly doesn't want us to hang out with just anyone.  We have to be very careful who we allow into our lives.

Even in Galatians when we are instructed to help others, we have also warned to be careful to not allow others sins to become our own.  Galatians 6:1 says, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.  But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."  We need to always be on guard! The devil is just waiting to destroy us!  This is why we are instructed in Ephesians 6:10-11, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes."

I think we all need to sit before the Lord today, seeking Him with all of our hearts, and ask Him if who we are spending our time with is of Him, and helping us to grow stronger in Him.  Our life is not our own.  It is time that we take a stand, surrender our lives fully to the King, and walk as Jesus did!  Today is a new day!  Let's turn from our past and walk towards the calling God has placed on each of our lives.

Dear God, in Jesus name, forgive us of our sins.  We love you so much!  We are so blessed to have you in our lives.  Lord, we want to walk with You, talk with You, and truly get to know You.  Show us God who You want us to spend our time with.  Weed those from our lives that You do not want us to hang out with.  Show us Your ways, not our own!  In Jesus name, Amen!