Who is your friend? That is one question that you must ask and answer if you desire to become the best of who you are meant to be.
Julius had a problem. He needed a solution. This issue had been eating deep into him. He just couldn’t wrap his head around it. He began to emaciate as a result of excessive thinking. He wasn’t looking like the Julius everyone knew. His parents wondered what could be wrong with their once lively lad.
He knew he had to find a solution to whatever was wrong with him. Just like a flash, he remembered his one time buddy and friend, Samson. Who is your friend? Who do you call friend? Samson was not really born again, that was why he cut ties with him initially, but now, he needed his help desperately.
Oh, why didn’t I think about him before now? He asked himself.
Off, he dashed to Samson’s house and discussed with him. In the end, Samson had a good time laughing at his long time friend who was looking worried over a “simple” matter.
Samson told him what to do. Even though he knew it was wrong, he went ahead, as he needed a solution badly. Who is your friend?
This was what happened to Amnon, David’s son. What was heavy in his heart, became a small matter in the eyes of his friend because his friend had a devilish mind.
As a matter of fact, Bible says his friend was a subtle, shrewd and crafty person.
Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, who was the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab always knew how to get what he wanted,
2 Sam 13:3 (CEV)
Jonadab put Amnon in trouble, just like Samson did to Julius in the story above.
Little wonder the Bible says
Stop being deceived: “Wicked friends lead to evil ends.
1 cor 15:33 (ISV)
Who are those you call friends? Are they really worth it? Are they after your wellbeing or your downfall?
Talk to your parents. Let them help you identify who your friends really are.
Prayer: Lord, help me to identify my real friends. Amen
Yesterday, we considered a few things to note about pressures.
We discussed that;
1. Pressures come to everybody 2. Nobody can put pressures on you unless you allow that person.
Let’s conclude this morning.
3. You can stop the pressures when you want to When you really want to stop the pressures, you simply stop seeing the person in question. You press the ‘disconnect’ button. You stop picking his or her call. You see, the moment communication lines are kept open; the pressures would keep coming! You say somebody is putting pressure on you and yet you are ‘flashing’ the person with your phone? Who is really putting the pressures?
4. Be sincere with yourself. Do you really want to stop the pressures or are you enjoying it? If you want to stop it, you won’t be like Samson, rather you will follow the example of Joseph.
What was the difference?
Joseph ran away at the face of sexual pressures. Samson thought he could handle the pressures, but he lost his life eventually. Look at what Delilah did to Samson:
And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; (Judges 16:16 KJV)
That is what I call pressure! But he didn’t run away. He thought he could handle it. He was wrong.
Joseph was pressured too! Look at the scriptures:
She pestered him day after day after day, but he stood his ground. He refused to go to bed with her. (Genesis 39:10 Message)
He stood his ground, and eventually ran away! That is what you do at the face of pressures. Run! Don’t bother to speak in tongues or spiritualize it, just run away!
Are there people around you that you need to run away from? Are there some Delilahs, some Amnons and some Mrs Potiphars? Wicked men? Evil men? Strange women? Liars? Impostors? Deceivers? Manipulators? Think about it! You have a responsibility to protect your life and destiny by the decisions you make and the people you give access to! Selah!
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I am not under undue pressures. I have liberty in God.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Ask God to give you strength to handle pressures.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me:and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.(Genesis 39:12 KJV)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Disconnect from people putting pressures on you
