Daily Devotional, Sept 13, 2023 Constant Influence

"Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm." Proverbs 13:20

For mothers of older children, two of the many areas of concern in raising kids are peer pressure and possible negative influences. Once we observe changes in their behavior, we usually think back to what they might have said to us about their friends and classmates and if it indicates bad influence.

And while we can overthink about these things, have we ever stopped to think about the things that personally influence us? Was there ever a time when we reflected if there are negative influences present in our lives?

For instance, that friend who kept on bragging about her latest shopping finds. Her influence may have one way or another made us de-prioritize some items on our household budget so that we can also get our hands on  the worldly “need” our friend recommends. Or have we been spending way too much time on gossip, online or otherwise, that we miss out on bonding time with the kids? Are we being covetous given the social media trends that flash before our eyes day after day as we blindly consume life updates upon updates of our social media friends and the influencers that we follow?

As Christian moms we are reminded to closely choose the company we keep. This has been mentioned in the bible several times, including Apostle Paul’s stern warning to the Corinthian church: “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33). In that same letter, St. Paul urged everyone to never align themselves with spiritually bankrupt people disguising as fellow believers: “But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.” (1 Corinthians 5:11)

We may be too close to see the bad clout hovering around us, but know that negative influences and peer pressure knows no age or season of life. It goes beyond teenage years. You can be a grandmother and continue to delight in  gossip and rumor mongering just because your amigas are into it too, and you bond over that.

To protect oneself from negative influences, we should tether ourselves to the Lord. We should intentionally pray everyday and listen to Him by reading our bible and self-reflecting. We should also spend time with fellow believers who can lead us to more wholesome conversations, worthwhile hobbies, and cheer us on as we go through every season of life. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Like a meticulous minimalist, we should keep on editing everything in our surroundings. Friendships, goals, habits and tasks that do not honor God should be the first things that we should dispose of. Let us heed heaven’s call to choose friends that could be with us in our journey of following Christ.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 and Proverbs 22:24-25 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question:  Have you ever thought of the things that influence your lifestyle? What do you plan to do with the influences that do not promote godly behavior?

Conversation with the Lord:  Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me a chance to examine the influences surrounding me. Help me discern the good ones from the bad, as I continue my own journey to your heart. Amen.