As your grow, so will your circle of influence. I wish I was the only one that would influence you, but I know that isn’t realistic.
There is danger in your circle of influence growing….a lot of danger.
The people you surround yourself with will influence the things you do…both good and bad. When you are young, you are impressionable…easily influenced. Some people in your life won’t always try to provide you with good things.
Let’s start with a story…
When Jesus was baptized, he went into their wilderness to pray. During his time in the wilderness, Jesus fasted (didn’t eat). Have you ever thought about what it is like to not eat for a day? Christ went and did it for 40 days. He was probably terribly hungry. Just in time, someone showed up with a suggestion for how he could eat.
Look…the food would have been great, but that wasn’t what Jesus needed at that moment. However, feeding Jesus isn’t what this person wanted. Ultimately, this person wanted to see the downfall of Jesus. It didn’t matter that food wasn’t what Jesus needed in that moment, the person who shared the way out didn’t have Jesus’ interests at heart….he had his own interests.
The person who tried to show Jesus how he could eat? The devil. Satan knew that Jesus needed this time of prayer and Christ knew he had to focus on the beginning of his ministry. There was nothing that Satan wanted more to stop that ministry…so what did he do? He brought the one thing that he thought Jesus needed the most…to distract him. People will bring you things you think (in certain moments) are good to get bad results. People will
As you get older, look at what each person brings you…and ask why. Are there strings attached? Do they want to see you fail? Do they want to bring you harm? Are they using you for their gain? The world is full of people who don’t want what is best for you or they want someone to go down the road to ruin with them. What is it that the people in your circle of influence want?
Look at the people around you. Are those people throwing logs on your fire and helping you burn bright or are they throwing water on your fire? The people that you spend time with will make or break you. Everyone doesn’t deserve the opportunity to be around you.
Listen to me….EVERYONE DOESN’T DESERVE THE OPPORUTNITY TO BE AROUND YOU. Read that, again. Everyone doesn’t deserve to hear your hopes and dreams. Not everyone deserves to have that access to you…because they won’t be as fragile with your faith, your dreams, or your reputation as you are. Find those who truly want to see you be successful and who make you better…and plant yourself in their sight.
Don’t worry about the people God shows you to remove from your life. He will see things and hear things you don’t. When he shows you who you need to remove, don’t think twice about it….just let them go.
They shouldn’t have been there in the first place.
Dad of Girls 