“Show me your friends and I will show you your future.” -Author Unknown

My dad used to tell me all the time that “if you lay with dogs, you’ll get fleas.” I guess this was his version of “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” He always had a wise saying that I ignored as a teen but completely understand as an adult. Laugh now, but one day you’ll be saying the same things about your parents’ crazy sayings.

As I  look back, I can honestly say that my friends had a lot to do with who I became. In high school, I wasn’t the most popular person but I wasn’t the least popular person either. I actually received the “friendliest” award in 8^th grade. (my husband still thinks that is hilarious for some reason) I guess you could say I got along with about anyone for the most part. I didn’t like confrontation, I definitely wasn’t a fighter, and to be honest…I wasn’t a huge fan of school in the first place. So I figured it was best to just be myself and make the most of it. I did get along with about everyone, but I always had a close group of friends that seemed to stay by my side throughout the years.

Every year I made different friends, kept the faithful few, and grew as a person. Some of the friends I chose were great influences. They were Christians, always had a meek/humble attitude, and never cursed or did anything bad. However, there were a few that were the opposite if you know what I mean. In the end, I made the decision who I became, but my friends were a major influence in some of the decisions I made.

Every decision you make, even when it comes to choosing your friends, can change your whole future and you as a person.

At one point, I dated a guy that loved to skateboard and played in a band. I’ll never forget the day he came to my house to pick me up with a mohawk! I literally thought my dad was going to lock me in my room and never let me go anywhere with him. He was a good guy but day by day, my friends and I saw ourselves changing. We liked guys in bands and loved the music they listened to, so well…we started to wear darker clothes, pick up skateboarding (sort of), and dress the part of a skateboarder. Our style changed, our language changed because of the music we listened to, and we became different people. Luckily that phase didn’t last forever.

Every year, it seemed as though one or more things would change about who we were. But it never failed, if you looked back at my group of friends at any given time, I was just like them and they were just like me. I became who I was hanging around and they became more like me.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t always the best thing.

I want to challenge you to evaluate who you hang out with. Are they leading you closer to God? Or are they pulling you further away from Him?

Are they encouraging you or bringing you down? Listen to them talk, are they always negative or gossiping about others? Or are they encouraging you and bringing you up when you’re having a bad day?

Whether you realize it or not, you are who you hang around.

In the book,” Divine Direction” by Craig Groeschel (great book if you need a good easy read), Craig says, We’re connected now more than ever, yet we feel lonelier than we ever have before.”

Why is this?

On social media the average person has thousands of friends and followers, but very few real friends. We spend hours working and going to school with hundreds of people, but we never really spend more than 5 minutes at a time with one person. Life is busy, texts are easier, and social media keeps up with everyone so no one really has to “connect” with anyone. We are living in an anti-social world with millions of lonely people.

Craig mentions that you should have 3 types of friends in your life to help you become a better person.

1) a friend to challenge you and bring out your best

2) a friend to help you find strength in God and to grow in your faith

3) a friend to tell you the honest truth, especially when you don’t want to hear it

Do you have friends like this? If not, pray for God to show you someone to connect with. At the same time, choose the type of friend you can be to others around you.

Each friend has their own purpose, and each friend can help you become a better follower of Christ with a life to be proud of.

Evaluating your friends can be tough. Sometimes when you really think about, some of your friends may be leading you down a dark path. Will you continue to follow them? Try to shine the Light and change their direction? Or just turn away and put Christ first in your life?

Decisions can be hard, but each decision you make can change your entire future. Stay focused on God, stay in prayer, and trust God to lead you in the way HE wants you to go.

“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:12

“Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Psalms 23:1-6

May God Bless you and show you His Grace every day!