Associations and Friendships (3)

It is important to note that no one is perfect and that includes you. Everyone has one fault or failing or the other, we should all consciously work on our weaknesses, and in love help others also. However, one of the ways we help ourselves is to choose relationships that would be a positive influence over our lives and destinies. A perverse friend will lead you to perversion. A lying friend will lead you to lie. If your friend is gossiping about other people to you, he/she is most definitely gossiping about you to other people, do not be deceived. Note your friend’s traits and behaviour, they will soon show up in you too – ”He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” Prov13:20.

The nature and temperament of those with whom you closely relate will infect your nature and temperament. Good-natured, even-tempered, peace-loving friends will influence you to be beautifully natured like them. Friends who love God will influence you to love God. When you spend time with someone who is always grumpy, you will in no time find yourself always moody and irritable. Relationship is impact.

Your success or failure in life is determined by your relationships. Your esteem and regard could be determined by the company you keep. When you associate with people who value and live “excellence”, you will also contact the drive to push for excellence in all you do. You draw positive energy from those who are going forward. Elisha’s close relationship with his mentor, prophet Elijah, enabled him to excel in life and ministry. Elisha received a double unction of God upon the life of Elijah. He excelled double. Your relationships matter to your life.

Wholesome relationships create a drive, a push towards your own fulfilment in life. Healthy relationships add value and substance to your life. What words are your friends speaking into your life? Are they words of encouragement, of lifting? Do you have supportive relationships? Do those with whom you relate closely, back you up to succeed, to excel? Many have failed in life and lost all incentive to go on because they related and associated with the wrong people. A lot of people have made good, succeeded and have taken their right place in life and destiny today because they associated with the right people. Everyone created of God has a place in destiny. You have a place of glory in life, especially created for you; and God has prepared people to help you get there. God has prepared people to hold your hands, to strengthen you, to encourage you, to assist you, to move you into the things that He has designed for you. You need to locate them by the Spirit of God.

The first and most important relationship for anyone created of God is with God. This is the greatest and most beneficial relationship one can ever cultivate. This relationship is guaranteed to break all barriers for you and take you beyond all limits. Our relationship with God in Jesus Christ should be the spring-board for every other relationship we ever cultivate. It is this relationship that determines and controls every other relationship you would ever have. If you are not sure you have a relationship with God, now is the perfect time to start it up. Why don’t you pray this simple prayer and start that friendship now?

”Lord Jesus, i desire a friendship relationship with you. I would like to know you better than before. Please come into my life and be my friend. Be my Lord and saviour. Every association and friendship that has until now been a negative influence upon my life, please get me out of them and begin a work of healing and restoration in me. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.”

– KJO