Life Plan Devotion #128 [Friends make a difference]

Hi, Everyone.
Thank you to those who prayed for my daughter and I as we drove to Oklahoma and back yesterday. The blood work went well, and then we did a bit of shopping and ate lunch at Red Lobster (shrimp scampi). It's nice to spend quality time, just mother and daughter. :)
Today's devotion talks about friends. Keep in mind that there are different degrees of friendship. For today's devotion, we look at the strongest level of friendship, and that is the level where we must, understandably, choose our strongest friends wisely. Remember, Jesus ate, talked, and walked "with publicans and sinners," and we should too, but He chose His 12 disciples wisely, and we should choose our closest friends carefully, too. It just makes sense. After all, "Can two walk together except they be agreed?"
I hope each of you have a terrific Tuesday.

Life Plan Devotion #128 [Friends make a difference]

Psalm 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers" (NIV).

     Verse 3 of Psalm 1:1-3 should look familiar. It is rather like verse 8 of Jeremiah 17:7-8, which we looked at in our previous devotion. These verses, that open the Book of Psalms, describe the "blessed" man in terms of what he does not do, what he does, and what the result is if he follows through (lining up himself--or herself with the Word of God).
     Let's look at what a blessed man/woman does not do, as expressed in the Amplified Version. "Blessed (Happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather" (Psalm 1:1). It matters with whom you associate and "follow."
     If you follow the "do" parts of the Bible, you won't even have to be concerned about the "don't" parts. "But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night" (Psalm 1:2, Amplified). Does that sound familiar?
     We've already seen that to be "blessed" means to be "happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable," and that is reinforced by the result of following the "don't part" (v. 1) and the "do part" (v. 2). "And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]" (Psalm 1:3, Amplified).
     If you desire to prosper in all you do, be a "firmly planted" tree, allow the Holy Spirit and the Word to "tend" you, and watch your life bear "fruit in its season" (i.e., when the time is right).
 
What this has to do with weight loss: Sometimes, after weight-loss surgery, you cannot associate with the same people you did before. Sometimes your surgery results change the way "friends" see you and react to you. Your surgery will change you, definitely, hopefully all for the better. Relationships may go through a time of adjustment. That's all right. Work on them. If, however, there is a friend who is not supportive, who, rather, tries to sabotage your weight-loss journey, be honest about what you need from him/her, and if he/she cannot or will not change, you may have to let go of that friendship. I know these issues are tough, but your True Friend, Jesus, will help you through them, if you let Him.

Confession:
I'm careful with whom I associate, choosing to spend my time learning from God's Word, and the result is that I am blessed and prosperous in all that I do.

Blessings,
Mary

This is a good one.  My former AA sponsor was terrific about my AA recovery, but kept telling me it was okay to eat sugar, as long as I did not drink.  I took that and ran with it.  She helped me get through a rough time, but I really needed support in not eating the sugar as well. 

Hugs,
Trish

Hi, Trish.
Wow, that must have been hard. Yes, you need a supporter who will challenge you to keep on track in all areas. Sometimes, especially if a person isn't challenged in one area, he/she may not take it very seriously. You knew it wasn't good for you, so you made the necessary changes. Good for you! :)
Blessings,
Mary

It is wonderful to have good friends to associate with.  Thank you for being one!

It's so good to hear from you, Vickie, as always. I was thinking about you and praying for you in the wee hours of the morning. :)
After I posted today's devotion, I wondered if it came across as judgmental, even though that was not my intention. I know we must love everyone. I've seen, though, that sometimes we allow others to bring us down, get too close to us in influence. You know?
Have a great day, my friend.
Blessings,
Mary