In terms of friends, On your journey to God, do you...

[CarLiTa]

1) try to reduce the amount of "not-so-good" or "bad" influences as much as possible? As in, do you completely get rid of people whom you feel are not helping you move forward?

2) or accept them as part of the challenge? Do you see them as a test, or the necessary obstacles on your way?

Please feel free to give advice. I don't know what to make of things, sometimes

 

[StrawberryQueen]

God will show you what is good and what is bad very clearly, if you ask him.

You will see which of your friends will hinder you in your walk, and which will help you. And it can be very surprising.

The girl who got pregnant at 16 and has 7 kids by 7 different men is not necessarily a totally worthless person, just like the "good" girl with straight A's in school is not necessarily a "good" person based on her outward actions/appearance.

Pray on it and all of your answers will be given. Just know that you may be suprised or hurt by the truth. Nonetheless you will be made better because of it.

 

[caribeandiva]

i used to think that my challenge was to change them. now i see that life is too short to keep around people who are dragging you down, don't respect you or your relationships, etc.. i just cut them loose and i'm all the happier for it.

 

[PaperClip]

1) try to reduce the amount of "not-so-good" or "bad" influences as much as possible? As in, do you completely get rid of people whom you feel are not helping you move forward?

2) or accept them as part of the challenge? Do you see them as a test, or the necessary obstacles on your way?

Please feel free to give advice. I don't know what to make of things, sometimes

Since I work diligently to maintain order and peace in my life, I do my best to avoid challenges I don't have to accept. But here's the thing: the Lord may place a person in my life for me to minister to them, pray for them, etc. and at the same time, that person may be in my life (for a season) because there may be a lesson that the Lord wants me to learn.

I have asked the Lord to move people out of my life and they got moved out QUICKLY. I have asked the Lord to move people out of my life and they did not move so quickly...because there was something that needed to be done. When I resisted that, that prolonged that person's presence in my life. It's when I aligned myself (in my free will) with the Lord's word, will, and way, then things began to flow.

 

[remnant]

God will show you what is good and what is bad very clearly, if you ask him.

You will see which of your friends will hinder you in your walk, and which will help you. And it can be very surprising.

The girl who got pregnant at 16 and has 7 kids by 7 different men is not necessarily a totally worthless person, just like the "good" girl with straight A's in school is not necessarily a "good" person based on her outward actions/appearance.

Pray on it and all of your answers will be given. Just know that you may be suprised or hurt by the truth. Nonetheless you will be made better because of it.

I agree with all you said!!!