[Ohio-Communities-of-Faith] "Toxic Relationships"- Brenda Walsh Ministries Daily Devotion

Sun Jul 25 07:31:39 UTC 2021

View this email in your browser

Toxic Relationships
Everyone needs friends in their life to feel happy, loved, and fulfilled. While some people have no problem making friends, others struggle forming meaningful relationships. Choosing the right friends is critically important because those close to you will influence you emotionally and, more importantly, spiritually. They have the ability to either strengthen your walk with God or drive you further away. The Bible says in Proverbs 12:26, “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Before allowing someone new into your heart and embracing a friendship, evaluate the time spent with them to determine if they are someone who is truly a godly influence. Are they authentic, genuine, and a person who reflects Christ’s character? Many times you put years of energy into a friendship never realizing that they weren’t a genuine friend and have actually been undermining you the whole time. One way to recognize toxic relationships is to ask yourself some basic, honest questions. Does this person constantly criticize you, put you down, or give sarcastic remarks destroying your confidence and self-worth? Is everything always your fault and never theirs? Is everything you say or do “wrong,” and their opinion is the only one that matters? Do they make you feel bad about yourself? Are they dismissive, cutting you off when you’re talking? If your relationship ticks off these boxes, then it’s quite likely a toxic relationship,     and you’ll need to spend time in prayer for Holy Spirit guidance to decide if this person should remain in your life. The fact is that you can’t force someone to love or respect you. You can’t demand an apology–for unless it is sincere from the heart, it is meaningless. Bottom line–you can’t make someone act or think differently. Only God can change hearts. Anyone who is putting you down, making you feel bad about yourself, or trying to destroy you doesn’t love you! Facing the reality that you have a toxic friend is heartbreaking, but there comes a time when you have to decide whether to turn the page or close the book. Keeping toxic friendships will only bring you down and keep you from being the person God wants you to be. Don’t be discouraged. The life in front of you is much more important than the life behind you. God wants you to have godly friends who will uplift and encourage you. Remove toxic relationships by first forgiving them for not being the friend you wanted them to be . . . and then move on without them. Text: Proverbs 13:20, Romans 12:9-10, Proverbs 18:24, Psalm 55:12-15

Bible Texts:
Proverbs 13:20 NKJV - He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed. 

Romans 12:9-10 NKJV - Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 

Proverbs 18:24 NKJV - A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. 

Psalm 55:12-15 NKJV - For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; Then I could hide from him. But it was you, a man my equal, My companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, And walked to the house of God in the throng. Let death seize them; Let them go down alive into hell, For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.

© Brenda Walsh Ministries www.brendawalsh.com

Share
Tweet
Forward

Our mailing address is:
Brenda Walsh Ministries
PO Box 2238
Collegedale, TN 37315

Add us to your address book

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from receiving emails.  

Shelley Duffy