SURVIVING HARD TIMES (5)

HOW TO SURVIVE BAD TIMES (5)

The fifth strategy to note is DO BE THANKFUL FOR FRIENDS WHO DON’T LET YOU DOWN. While Saul was madly pursuing David to take his life, while the men of Keilah and the Ziphites were ready to betray David, we have the brief account of Jonathan coming to David to “encourage him in God.” Friends that will stay with you no matter what are few and far between, if you have a friend like that, thank the Lord for that friend. You will need friends beyond your association if you are to come out of any hard situation. The people you have in your circle of friends determined how far you will go in life. If the only people you have as friends are just your mates, you may not go far in life. David surrounded himself with six hundred trained men including priest and prophet. Who do you have in your association? Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend (Proverb 27:17).

To have a balance circle, you must have those who are older than you, those you are older than and your mates. You must have people who can lift you up in times of need in your association, not just your mates. Do you have a doctor as friends? Do you have an accountant or a banker? You must have at least someone in all fields as friends; this will help you when you need assistance, you may have such to call on as pertains to their profession when needs arise. The people in your association, do they have the same level of spiritually with you? You must company with those who will be there for you in times of need. Don’t just company with everybody, you do not need everybody to become somebody. You only need few and genuine individuals around, those who talk you into becoming what God want you to become, not those who talk you out of your vision. Not those who talk you down or have not seen anything good about you. Look for men on the throne, outside the throne and men like sons of Issachar who understand seasons and times. Women like the Berean women who search the scriptures and a friend like Philip who looked out for his friend, Nathaniel when he found Jesus the Messiah.

Beloved, who is he that is looking after you? The Bible says, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevails against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” – Eccl. 4:9-12. As you long to have important people in your circle of friends, do you have Jesus as friend? The best relationship any man can have here on earth is to be a friend of Jesus. You will be glad you do. Do not forget, also thank God for friends who have not let you down, they may be your parents, brothers, sisters, colleagues or anybody. They are your angels.

Word Affirmation: “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." - Numbers 6:24-26 (Don't just say it, mean it!)

“Who you have in your circle of friends determined how far you will go in life. If the only people you have as friends are just your mates, you may not go far in life.”

MIND THIS