Soul Searching

Have you ever sat down with a friend or even a group of friends, and had one of those moments where you found yourself looking from the outside in; re-evaluating if the friendship or the companionship is a positive influence in your life?  Maybe they are very vocal, yell too much, put down other people/their children, they may be negative all the time or their children might do things that you wouldn’t necessarily allow, etc.  Having the opportunity to step back and look from the outside in allows one to do some true soul searching. 

The Bible states in Proverbs 13:3 “Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”  Do you truly want to be that type of friend who just stands there and says nothing, even if the Spirit is churning within you and telling you to correct the behavior? Instead we think…but what would people think? Would they stop being my friend? Would I be disrespecting them?  We tend to go with the flow because in life we are taught that majority rules. We guard our lips to preserve others, in that moment in time, but there has to be a point where we stand back and say this is not for me.  I either say something positive to help them see their wrong acts or don’t associate with them any longer.  Remember that those who speak rashly will come to ruin; they don’t think before they speak, in turn, hurting those around them and breaking their spirits.  We should voice our opinion, in a respectiveful manner and with the Spirit's guidance, about what is right.

You might not be part of the majority, but it doesn’t matter. You are doing right by God and protecting those around you from reaping bad seeds. Galatians 6:7-8 explains: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Do you want your children to be a witness to something that you wouldn’t do or allow to be done in your home?  Think about it! Sometimes, some soul searching is needed in order for us to serve God in a purer sense and to allow our loved ones, children and spouses to see that we are truly looking out for their best interest.  Those thoughts, words and actions can get attached to you like a bug (sucking eternal life out of your spirit and those around you), and not allowing you to act appropriately by mimicking what you see. 

Ponder on these questions and do some soul searching... Are you who people think you are? OR Are you hiding your true self in order to be accepted?