WHO SURROUNDS YOU MATTERS
We all want friends so we can have someone to rant to or hang out with.
Some friends are really good friends. You know.. the ones that are there when you need a shoulder to cry on. Maybe you fell on hard times and they are there to help when you need a meal, or just to go out on a girl's day. They are the ones that say “No girl, it’s fine I got you!”
Then... there are some friends who are distant. They don't show up when you’re at rock bottom. They don't check on you when they see you’ve been posting some "down" posts.
If you’re anything like me, I used to think that it didn’t matter who I hung around. I thought I was my own person and did not believe “birds of a feather flock together." Turns out, the whole time I wasn’t my own person. I did turn into those people... and it wasn’t good. They were stealers, smokers, fighters, drinkers... and I became that. For a while, I didn’t see an issue. I never got caught. Playing in sin was fun with those people.. some of them family members. I knew that some things were wrong, but again, the sin felt nice.
Those friends didn’t really care about me though. They didn’t care about what it would cost in the future. I am thankful for the other friends who were good people and saw what I was doing. They warned me and at first, I didn’t listen. Then, I became pregnant and it was like my whole world stopped. Literally, I began to think, "God why would you give me a baby when, I’m 13!" I even thought, "I’m a horrible person right now." So, I acknowledged that maybe I can change and do better.. if not for me, then my son. I made the hard decision and stopped hanging around those people, stopped most of the bad I was doing, and started to restore my friendships with my good friends.
They are very supportive friends.
They are faith filled friends.
They go to church every Sunday.
We may not talk every day but if anything was to come up we would be here for each other.
I'm writing today to let you know that the BEST kind of friendship are with friends of the Christian faith. I am LIVING proof of what these types of friendships can do for your life. This type of friendship saved mine. I am thankful that when I don’t have the faith to believe my friends are here and willing to carry the faith for me.
(See: Luke 5: 17-26, Matthew 9:1-8, and Mark 2:1-12)
Oftentimes, now, I realize how blessed I am for how quick I changed from doing wrong to becoming better. If I was still the same person that I was 5 years ago, honestly, I would either be in jail or prison... or even dead. So many people I used to hang out with have been killed and went to jail and prison.
Making the decision to come back to God, to find new faithful friends, and to get saved were some of the best decisions I could have ever made. Now I’m experiencing Gods love and grace; day in and day out. I no longer feel convicted because of the sin I was doing. I am forgiven! I’m truly on the right path.
Lastly, back then I knew I was going to hell and now I live in peace knowing I’m going to heaven. Daily, little by little, I’m making efforts to please God and walk in His will for my life. God's love is the greatest love and I am so thankful He forgave me for my sins, accepted me, and is still working in me for His glory.
You may fear that it’s too late to be forgiven but it’s not too late!
I encourage, if this is you, to step out in faith and CHOSE to be forgiven and start off new. It's your choice to receive the precious love of Christ.
I promise you won’t regret it!