What Is Your Friend To You?

I was listening to a program by Ed Young called "The 50 Shades of "They"".  I was so impressed with it that I just had to share it.  The focus of this is "What have "they" influenced you to do that you wouldn't have done if "they" hadn't been around?"  The people in our lives make such a big difference.  More difference than we realize.  They affect our character, our behavior, our moral values, our successes, our failures, etc... None of us are an island unto ourselves... even though some of us try to be, we only succeed at maybe becoming a peninsula... maybe... or so we think.

Ed Young gave this excellent acronym for FRIEND:

F = FOUNDATIONAL
R = RELATIONSHIP
I  = IN
E = EVERYONE'S
N = NATURAL
D = DOMAIN

I thought this was a great way to look at how we are affected by others, by being more aware, considerate, and cautious in our choice of the people that we choose to hang around with and/or call "Friends".

There were 6 questions asked.  If you ask yourself these questions, God will show you who the "they" are in your life:

1. Do "they" MOTIVATE you to love God more - Heb. 3:13?

- Go where the "they" are "Motivaters" in your life and swim away from the shallow water of 'friends' who are "Haters" when you begin to succeed and/or do better than they are doing?

2. Do "they" CELEBRATE God's blessings in your life - Prov. 11:10?

- Go where you are "Celebrated", not tolerated!

3. Do "they" have your back - Prov. 17:17?

- When you are going through hard times, see who sticks with you. 

4. Do "they" hold you accountable out of love and friendship - Prov. 27:6?

- Accountability emerges out of an affinity and love.  So you have earned that right by the closeness of the friendship you have.

5. Do "they" live what they believe - Psalm 119:63?

- Are "they" serving, praying, and giving to those who are outside of Christ... not just to other Christians.

6.  Do "they" have the right "they" in their life - 2 Cor. 6:14?

- Remember, by what we behold, we become changed.  If they are surrounding themselves with the wrong "they", then it also identifies to you what kind of person your friend is as a "they" in your life.

You see, we call so many different types of people friend.  i.e. facebook friend, associate friend, best friend, etc.  There are shallow water "theys" and deep water "theys".

Life is too short!  Swim away from the "shallow water" friends. Get rid of them out of your life and swim with the "deep water" friends.

See ya til next time... and remember... 
Living Victoriously begins with your state of mind!

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