Tuesday, May 6, 2025
To Grow in Spiritually and Emotionally
I like what one man said: "prune your tree" of influences." Remove the dead branches and allow the live ones to thrive.
Who are Your Friends?
"Who you are around is how you will sound." We are influenced by the people with whom we spend the most time.
God clearly states that "bad company corrupts good character" and that "those who walk with the wise will be wise."
There are two reasons for how we choose our friends. We choose friends based on admiration for them and the way they act, or the fear of being alone, so we choose friends who are available rather than because they will influence us to walk more uprightly.
I have met people who used words incorrectly frequently, and when corrected, they acted as though something rude happened and continued to use the words incorrectly.
These people had constant companions who were arrogant and self-willed, allowing them to believe being arrogant and self-willed was normal and even desirable.
Fitting into the baser way of communicating was preferable to these people because they didn't want to be different from their constant companions.
I have also witnessed those who have been mocked for raising their level of communication excellence merely for being different from the rest of the group.
It is wise to surround ourselves with those who accept and even celebrate the way we choose to walk. Those who attempt to demean us for improving ourselves will not be lovely friends; they will bring nothing but snark and rudeness to our lives that need not be present.
Those who are self-elevated and full of pride do not appreciate and even hate those who enjoy improving their lives through education or study. There are those who attempt to shame those who want to improve themselves.
God tells us to remove ourselves from those who are "Debbie Downers", attempting to revile and shame us into being like them. I am a strong believer in allowing people to be who they are as well as celebrate their improvements.
It is good to be around people who raise our level of wisdom.
Those who argue to win are foolish, but the wise enjoy an intelligent conversation to discover truth. No one has to "win", but both celebrate when they discuss to discover God's truth, God calls it "edification" to enhance our walk with Him.
There is a saying, "if I think about small things, I will talk about small things,". (Jefferson Fisher)
It is true that if we think about important matters, we will talk about important matters. When we are around people who are continually nagging about unimportant things, there will be constant jealousy, gossip, and judgment over things that don't even matter.
People who are invested in Spiritual and emotional growth invest in one another for the betterment of the sou,l and we all grow together.
Personally, I want to be around those who raise my level of thinking rather than diminish it.
1 Thessalonians 5:11-18 "Therefore, comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing."
Romans 14:18-19 "…18 For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. 19 So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification."
God's definition of edification is important in our walk with Christ.
"Building others in the truth for Spiritual and emotional growth to develop maturity."
Romans 14:19, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification.”
Helping one another mature, encouraging growth and change which leads to a more joyful and obedient life to the Word of Christ.
God clearly states that "bad company corrupts good character" and that "those who walk with the wise will be wise."
There are two reasons for how we choose our friends. We choose friends based on admiration for them and the way they act, or the fear of being alone, so we choose friends who are available rather than because they will influence us to walk more uprightly.
I have met people who used words incorrectly frequently, and when corrected, they acted as though something rude happened and continued to use the words incorrectly.
These people had constant companions who were arrogant and self-willed, allowing them to believe being arrogant and self-willed was normal and even desirable.
Fitting into the baser way of communicating was preferable to these people because they didn't want to be different from their constant companions.
I have also witnessed those who have been mocked for raising their level of communication excellence merely for being different from the rest of the group.
It is wise to surround ourselves with those who accept and even celebrate the way we choose to walk. Those who attempt to demean us for improving ourselves will not be lovely friends; they will bring nothing but snark and rudeness to our lives that need not be present.
Those who are self-elevated and full of pride do not appreciate and even hate those who enjoy improving their lives through education or study. There are those who attempt to shame those who want to improve themselves.
God tells us to remove ourselves from those who are "Debbie Downers", attempting to revile and shame us into being like them. I am a strong believer in allowing people to be who they are as well as celebrate their improvements.
It is good to be around people who raise our level of wisdom.
Those who argue to win are foolish, but the wise enjoy an intelligent conversation to discover truth. No one has to "win", but both celebrate when they discuss to discover God's truth, God calls it "edification" to enhance our walk with Him.
There is a saying, "if I think about small things, I will talk about small things,". (Jefferson Fisher)
It is true that if we think about important matters, we will talk about important matters. When we are around people who are continually nagging about unimportant things, there will be constant jealousy, gossip, and judgment over things that don't even matter.
People who are invested in Spiritual and emotional growth invest in one another for the betterment of the sou,l and we all grow together.
Personally, I want to be around those who raise my level of thinking rather than diminish it.
1 Thessalonians 5:11-18 "Therefore, comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing."
Romans 14:18-19 "…18 For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. 19 So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification."
God's definition of edification is important in our walk with Christ.
"Building others in the truth for Spiritual and emotional growth to develop maturity."
Romans 14:19, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification.”
Helping one another mature, encouraging growth and change which leads to a more joyful and obedient life to the Word of Christ.
The Devil and Emotionalism
The devil loves emotionalism; he can get anyone to feel things are right when they are wrong and things are wrong when they are right. Christ is about truth not emotions. We have emotions but they must be evaluated in light of God's truth in His Word.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit."
Psalm 37:3-5
"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it."
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit."
Psalm 37:3-5
"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it."
Reaching the Whole World
In my pondering the state of our country this morning, it occurred to me that so many people are worried about "saving America" they forget that Christ died for the entire world not just America. And, that most who live anywhere in the world have and will reject Christ.
Mark 13:13
"You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved."
As born again believers we know no one will be saved who has rejected Christ. And, I am convinced that God wrote every name of every person ever born down in HIs book of life even before they were born, and only those who reject HIm will be blotted out.
Revelation 3:5
"5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."
All those who have been changed into a new creation by Christ have been saved and will remain to the end because it was Christ Who changed them when they desired to follow Him. He sent His Holy Spirit to live in His children permanently.
I believe all names of every person were placed in the book of life because Christ desired that all would be saved, while knowing that not all would trust in Him for salvation.
Our marching orders from God as born-again believers were to take the gospel to the world, not to just one nation. We were not told to save a nation for Christ; we were told to bring the gospel to ALL people in EVERY nation (ethnic group).
The beauty of these last days is that every believer can be in contact with the peoples of the world from their living rooms. It is my contention that we f we all do our part, whether with our neighbors, friends, and family, we can speak the truth, encourage those who are walking with Christ to remain faithful to His Word, and resolve to be led by the Holy Spirit!
And, it is a mandate from God to rebuke, admonish and comfort those who are brothers and sisters in Christ when necessary.
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 "14 We urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good [both] for each other and for all."
When we think globally instead of nationally, we will be obeying the command of Christ to reach all the people of the world for Christ, each one doing what He decided for us to do, whether a small number in our sphere of influence or traveling the world. Whatever God gave us to do is all He expects.
The more I think about these end times and the prophecy playing out all over the world, the more excited I become that we have been given a "prophetic time" to live in and are seeing what the prophets of the Bible never saw or understood but we can understand now.
Daniel 12:4 " 4 But you, Daniel, shut up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam to and fro, and knowledge will increase.”
The words have been opened to understanding, and the seal has been broken that we, the end times believers, can understand as we seek the Holy Spirit.
Hallelujah!!!!!
Mark 13:13
"You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved."
As born again believers we know no one will be saved who has rejected Christ. And, I am convinced that God wrote every name of every person ever born down in HIs book of life even before they were born, and only those who reject HIm will be blotted out.
Revelation 3:5
"5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."
All those who have been changed into a new creation by Christ have been saved and will remain to the end because it was Christ Who changed them when they desired to follow Him. He sent His Holy Spirit to live in His children permanently.
God says in Revelation 3:5 "and I will not blot out his name", meaning everyone who has been changed by Christ.
I believe all names of every person were placed in the book of life because Christ desired that all would be saved, while knowing that not all would trust in Him for salvation.
Our marching orders from God as born-again believers were to take the gospel to the world, not to just one nation. We were not told to save a nation for Christ; we were told to bring the gospel to ALL people in EVERY nation (ethnic group).
The beauty of these last days is that every believer can be in contact with the peoples of the world from their living rooms. It is my contention that we f we all do our part, whether with our neighbors, friends, and family, we can speak the truth, encourage those who are walking with Christ to remain faithful to His Word, and resolve to be led by the Holy Spirit!
And, it is a mandate from God to rebuke, admonish and comfort those who are brothers and sisters in Christ when necessary.
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 "14 We urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good [both] for each other and for all."
When we think globally instead of nationally, we will be obeying the command of Christ to reach all the people of the world for Christ, each one doing what He decided for us to do, whether a small number in our sphere of influence or traveling the world. Whatever God gave us to do is all He expects.
The more I think about these end times and the prophecy playing out all over the world, the more excited I become that we have been given a "prophetic time" to live in and are seeing what the prophets of the Bible never saw or understood but we can understand now.
Daniel 12:4 " 4 But you, Daniel, shut up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam to and fro, and knowledge will increase.”
The words have been opened to understanding, and the seal has been broken that we, the end times believers, can understand as we seek the Holy Spirit.
Hallelujah!!!!!
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