Text: Psalms 1:1-6
Memory text:
“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.” ‭‭
Proverbs ‭12‬:‭26‬ NKJV

Everybody should not be your friend. Like a Chinese Proverb says, “A friend to everybody is a friend to nobody. The importance of paying attention to choosing one’s friends is known across cultures, like an Arab proverb says, “Choose your neighbor before your house and your companion before the road.”
“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, ….” ‭‭(Prov‬ ‭12‬:‭26‬).
As believers, although God gives us the freedom to choose, He doesn’t want us to choose randomly, emotionally, or according to world’s standards. Rather, God calls us to choose wisely, according to His truth.
Choosing the wrong friends can cost you more than you realize, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and even physically. However, the blessing of the right friend can change your life forever. While wrong friends can pull you down, right friends can lift you up, shape your habits, and influence your decisions. Let’s consider two factors to guide us in choosing our friends.
Firstly and foremost, clear evidence of the fear of God should be seen in the person. If the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, then the choice which is premised on the fear of God is a wise choice (Prov 9:10). They will relate with you on the basis of the fear of God. This means they will not harm you, deceive you, or be unfaithful even in your absence, not because they fear you but because they fear God. They will encourage you to do the things that are pleasing to God and dissuade you from doing otherwise. “I am a friend to anyone who fears you— anyone who obeys your commandments.” (Psa 119:63NLT).
Another reason to consider in choosing your friends is the courage to correct you with love. A true friend doesn’t want your downfall, so he corrects you when you are wrong. A bad friend flatters you (Prov 27:6). They hold themselves accountable to one another. That was the secret of the over five decades of untarnished integrity of the Billy Graham’s ministry. Four friends, Billy Graham, Cliff Barrows, George Beverly Shea, and Grady Wilson, made a deliberate decision to hold themselves accountable to high standards of integrity in ministry. This commitment became known as the Modesto Manifesto.
Friends, the effects of wrong friendship can be now and in the future whereas the right friendship can change your life forever.

Prayer points
1. Father, open my eyes to see enemies around me who behave like friends and separate them from me, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, I receive grace to walk in Your fear and in Your wisdom and to choose my friends wisely, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. The friends I will go with on the journey are more important than the place I am going.
2. Everyone can’t be my friend because not everyone shares my values, so I choose my friends wisely.