CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://youtu.be/rA-wMLjgPkU

Hello my friends

The title of today’s episode is: “ROCKS OR PEARLS”

If you ask most women if they would rather have a necklace like Wilma Flintstone, a bunch of rocks that are not diamonds or a strand of pearls. The logical choice is that the pearls have more value. But when we choose the people we allow to be in our inner circle, we are not as wise.  We often trust people we shouldn’t to influence our life choices. We sometimes allow our inner circle to be full of rocks.

These are the people that are a heavy weight around our necks. They drag us down and never do anything to help themselves.  Don’t get me wrong, we all walk through things and times when we need someone to lean on. There is a difference in needing someone to lean on and needing a conscience and someone to complain to constantly.

These rock people then are opinionated and get upset when you don’t let them control you. They may appear to be your friend on the surface but secretly want you to fall or fail. We are supposed to love everyone; it doesn’t say you have to take everyone into confidence and allow them to be in your sphere of influence.

Sometimes, we have to keep these people in our lives for a season because God needs us to be an influence on them and show them how to be a friend. They always need us to point them to Jesus and pray for them to find Him.

Prov. 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

If we allow foolish people to influence us, it could destroy us or at least cause us problems. We need to walk with the wise.  Surrounding ourselves with Pearls of Wisdom, those people who make us better belong in our inner circle. We all need prayer partners and someone who will be bold and honest with us when we are out of line. They will do this in love, not judgment, and not because they want to control us.

Prov 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

These people are the rare individuals who are in your corner and remind you of where you have been. They are there to give us encouragement to reach our destiny. It is important that they are genuine pearls. They will not be jealous of our success but will be happy for us when we succeed. These friends will encourage us and lift us up.

These people make up an important part of our lives. They are there for all the adventures and tragedies we walk through in this life. But more important than our inner circle of real friends and family is our friend Jesus.

Prov 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

This verse refers to Jesus as being our friend that sticketh closer than a brother. He was our perfect example of how to be a friend. He has given us examples, and His written word that teaches us how to treat others.

We have to be the kind of friend we want others to be to us. This is the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Eccl4:9-10  Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.  10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

It is a good thing to have someone you can share the joy and the sorrows with. More than anyone in this life, Jesus is there to share all our joys and sorrows.

Take a moment to reflect this morning on your circle of influence.  Are they rocks or pearls?

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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