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‘My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!’ Proverbs 1:10 NLT

We can often underestimate the influence other people can have on us. Even the shows we watch online and the social media accounts we follow can have an effect on us. We tend to become like the people we spend the most time with, so it’s very important we choose our friends wisely. Here are some tips for making sure that we’re surrounding ourselves with good influences:

(1) Try to become aware of who and what influences you the most. There might be a particular person or group we gravitate towards, or a YouTube channel we tend to head to when we’re alone. We should try to develop an awareness of who has the most potential to influence us.

(2) Check if they’re likely to be good or bad influences. Notice the way they talk, dress, show respect or a lack of it, and how they interact with others. We should also ask ourselves if they draw us closer to God or push us away from Him.

(3) Look out for warning signs. If someone is having a negative influence on us, chances are that when we stop to consider our behaviour, we’ll begin to notice we’re becoming indifferent towards spiritual things, we’re developing a defiant spirit, or we’re attracted to things that God wouldn’t approve of. Proverbs 1:10 NLT says: ‘If sinners entice you, turn your back on them.’ When Joseph was being tempted by Potiphar, he didn’t stop to let himself be trapped—he simply ran from the temptation. That’s a legitimate course of action if we feel we’re being separated from God. We shouldn’t allow anything to replace God’s influence on our lives.

SoulFood: Gen 10–12, Luke 1:39–56, Ps 10:12–18, Pro 1:17–19

word4today an adaptation of The Word For Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2024

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