Page 69 - #LoveWarrior

gold, he reflects a Christlike character. A pastor, wedding officiant, and relationship expert, he offers guidance and
accountability on my life’s journey. As he invests in me, he speaks directly to the guilt and shame in my life,
commanding them to flee.

“Miranda”
This woman is inspirational. Her decision to bring good, not harm to everyone she comes into contact with is
incredible. A woman with a husband and two kids, she pours life into them. She respects and loves her husband. She
encourages and supports him. Together, they are a team. As a team, they offer their children a loving, healthy
environment, one that fosters acceptance, growth, discipline, and character development. Everything is in order.
Chaos has no place in their life or their home. They are blessed, and they choose to bless their community. I love
and admire this about them.

“If you are not surrounded by people that are going to challenge you, pray for you, speak the Word to you – you're
alone. You may have a bunch of people in your life, but spiritually you are alone and vulnerable for this guy (devil)
to come speak to you” (“All In,” Miles McPherson).

We all need a good team rallying behind us. A team that has done their own “work” to bear righteous fruit. People
who do not just know the scripture, but who are rooted in it in their own lives. I hope my roster has inspired you to
either begin forming your own, or, at a minimum thank them for their role in your life.

Bad Influence
In this day and age, you're guaranteed to find yourself in situations that could potentially be harmful to your mind,
body, and soul.

One father, in a letter to his son, writes:

The Bible makes it clear that "Bad company corrupts good morals." 1 Corinthians 5:33. You will be known
by the company you keep. People will make a judgment about the quality of your mettle (your worth as a
person) by the quality of those you have chosen to count among your friends. Test those with whom you
would spend time by this standard: Are they the kind of people who will challenge me to be a better
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person? Will these guys challenge me to be more like Christ?

My mom always said, “Sweetie, if you run with dogs, you're eventually going to bark.” I've also long heard, “A
drowning man will always drag somebody down with him.” I love the phrase: “Surround yourself with those on the
same mission as you.” A pastor has used the phrase: “Show me your five closest friends, and I’ll show you where
you'll be in five years.”

You get the point.

The friends we choose to spend our time with reveal a lot about us: what path we are on, what our values are, what
we believe, and to what we will make ourselves vulnerable. By surrounding ourselves with those not on the same
mission as us – even if only out of convenience – we make ourselves susceptible to physical or emotional attack and
harm. Some circles use the word “death” to describe this. “Death means the death of opportunity, death of
relationship, death of vision, death of self-respect. These are the things that die very, very slowly when you sin. The
death of your relationship and intimacy with God” (“All In,” Miles McPherson).

25 Jacobson, Matthew L. "An Open Letter to the Boy Becoming a Man." Faithfulman.com.
https://faithfulman.com/open-letter-to-the-boy-becoming-a-man/

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