10 Steps to Destiny - #5 - Guard Your Surroundings!Here's wishing season's greetings to you and yours during this most hallowed time of the year! As we explore this 5th step to destiny, I have to ask a simple, yet thought-provoking question: who's in your circle? In other words, who do you allow to be a consistent part of your surroundings as you press your way towards destiny?
Think about that for a moment. And while you're thinking, I'd like to share a quote that a friend of mine (Deanna Hamilton) has posted on her Facebook page. This quote really caught my attention, and it's amazing how much it particularly speaks to this 5th step to destiny. It says, "Life is a theater so invite your audiences carefully. Not everyone is holy enough and healthy enough to have a front row seat in your life." Wow, what a true saying! Its very essence merely reminds us that we have to be careful who we allow to be a part of the most important aspects of our life. This boils down to a very key component of our daily lives: relationships.
I cannot begin to tell you how very important relationships are. I personally believe that relationships are a fact of life that simply cannot be ignored, under-rated or underappreciated. Whether the relationship is pertaining to one's family, co-workers, friends, business associates or even people that you have to interact with casually (the dry cleaner, the grocer, etc.), relationships are key.
But as it particularly relates to reaching our life's destiny, it is critical that we take measures to assure that we guard our surroundings. Yes, it is rather necessary that we nurture the relationships we do have, steer clear of the relationships that would do us more harm than good, and then we need to be open to developing new relationships.
Let's talk about nurturing the relationships we do have first. I was sharing with a friend the other day that one of my spiritual gifts is that of faith. "I'll stand flat-footed and tell anybody that I serve a God that can do anything," I shared. At the same time, we must also acknowledge that in many instances, God uses people to accomplish His will. Thus, the importance of relationships. No, we don't go around putting our confidence in man because all too often, man will disappoint us. We do, however, need to be careful how we regard every person in our lives, particularly those whom we know are in our lives for a good purpose. One of the wisdom keys from the world-renowned Mike Murdock states, "Those who cannot increase you will inevitably decrease you." (Special thanks to my dear friend and brother, Van Benton, for sharing Dr. Murdock's thoughts with me.)
Dr. Murdock's statement reinforces the importance of nurturing the positive relationships in our lives. Yet, it also brings us to the second point that says we need to steer clear of those relationships that would do us more harm than good. As referenced earlier in Deanna's quote, not every one deserves a front row seat in your theater. Understanding this will further require a strong sense of discernment. As painful as it may be, we must not forget the very real possibility of there being people who are not in your corner, regardless of how much they have led you to believe that they are. This could be a family member, a colleague that you thought was a true confidant, or some other trusted individual. God will give you wisdom and discernment to know who these people are. Your task is to make sure you act accordingly once this truth has been revealed.
Finally, I would encourage you to be open to developing new relationships. It matters not how many people you know as much as it matters how many people know you. You were created for a purpose, and it's very important that your reputation be as such that people know you by the fruit that you bear. In doing so, you position yourself to develop even more relationships than you already have. Before you know it, you will begin to see that your gift has made room for you and that it has begun to put you before great men. And as God is moving in your life, make sure you make the most of these relationships. Try not to burn bridges, and if it seems inevitable that you must, just remember that it's not what you do, it's how you do it. Ask God to show you which relationships are worth keeping, severing and pursuing. You'll be happy that you did!
Pushing You Towards Destiny, I am
Pastor Alonia Jernigan