“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

There are some people who are difficult, toxic, people who drain and suck the life out of you. The way you can tell is by asking yourself, “Do I feel better after talking to this person or do I feel worse?”

Look, we all have our days. We all can be difficult. That’s not what I’m talking about. There are people who are not good for us. There are people who do not make us better people. There are people who drag us down. There are people who will make us worse.

Be wise.

If you surround yourself with people who make you worse…Lord, have mercy.

I don’t know who wrote this, but I think it’s spot on.

A bottle of water can be fifty cents at a supermarket, $3 at the gym, $6 at the movies, and $8 on a plane. Same water. Only thing that changed its value is the location…So the next time you feel your worth is nothing, maybe you’re at the wrong place with the wrong people.

Who your friends are matters. Get around people who make you a better person.

Finally, we ought to ask ourselves whether we make others better or worse.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105).

This is one of those verses that sounds much better than how it is in reality. Have you ever tried walking in the woods with a lamp? Lamps are terrible. You literally can see your next step, but forget about what’s ahead of you ten feet away. All that a lamp is good for is your next step on the path. That’s it.

But, that’s exactly the point.

God didn’t say that he is giving us a military grade flashlight that can cut through the darkness. God didn’t say he’s giving us night-vision goggles to help us to see all that is around.

Nope.

Just your next step on the path. That’s it.

And, that’s more than enough. As long as we know God is guiding us, that’s all we need to know.

Do you trust that? Do you believe that?

What is God asking you to trust him with today? Give it to him and take the next step.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Worrying.

It’s part of what it means to be human. Right?

Well, yes and no. Worrying is what people who do not know God do. Let me explain.

Consider your typical American child. Have you ever seen a child worry about where they are going to get food? about where to live? about their future? You know why that is? They have a mommy or a daddy who’s going to take care of that.

You know who worries about such things? Orphans do. I’ve seen them. I worked with them in Uganda. That is their constant worry – what will I eat? where will I sleep?

So, think about what you are worrying about today. Do you have a Father who loves you and who wants what is best for you?

If so, give it to him. Let him know and let him take care of it.

Do you worry? Then pray. Give it to God. Surrender.

What are you holding onto today that God wants you to surrender? Think about what it would look like to pray that over to God and surrender that to God.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).