Daily Power #78

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. (Prov. 13:20)

My mom used to share with me tons of motherly wisdom. When our team lost a ballgame and I was feeling disappointed, she might say, “It doesn’t matter if you win or lose; it’s how you play the game.” Or if I got frustrated because I couldn’t follow the directions for assembling a model plane: “You can do anything you set your mind to.”

But the clincher, the one she told me most often, dealt directly with my friends: “You are who you run with.” Sometimes I wasn’t sure if she was approving of my buddies or encouraging me to find better replacements. She probably wasn’t sure either. What became clear, though, was the truth in her wisdom.

It’s almost impossible to live the right life when you have the wrong friends.

Whether you’re a kid, a tween, a teenager, a young adult, or middle-aged, you will become like your closest friends. Count on it. When we connect with another person, we become a conduit for their values, beliefs, and decisions. This isn’t just from my mom—the Bible states this truth repeatedly. If you stick close to people who are wise, you’ll become wiser. If you hang out with people who are godly, you’re likely going to grow closer to God. If you become close friends with people who make good decisions, chances are you’ll make better decisions too.

Today run with people who love God as much or more than you do.

Power Lift

Jesus, give me wisdom about who I choose to spend my time with and how and when to trust them. Bring me friends who make me more like you and empower me to be a blessing to them.