Testimony: Elimination Time!!
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.When I went away to College at 17 I made A LOT of bad decision you could say I was a lost soul trying to find my place in the world. You know that feeling your finally out the house can do what you want have some freedom. Well my love of Freedom only lasted but so long. When I was in college I hung out with people who I knew deep down was no good for me, but because they were the first people I met on campus and they had "accepted" me I just went with the flow. I would have people come up to me and say "why are you hanging with that crowd, I don't know what you see in them, you are nothing like them, you're better than that ect. They were right I was nothing like them but because I had fun with them and felt accepted I did not want to let go of the "friendship" that we had. By me hanging out with this crowd I engaged in activities that I had never done such as drinking, experimenting with Drugs, Partying, Clubbing ect. If you were to ask me about my Freshmen Year or Sophomore Year of College I would not be able to recall anything, I was never sober.Long story short the end of my Sophomore year I came home for the weekend to get some laundry done and spend time with the parental's. I ended up attending a church service with my mom at the church that she started attending herself. Towards the end of the service the pastor had an alter call to rededicate our lives back to Christ, I felt compelled to go so I did when I got up there the Lord had a word for me more like confirmation. The word was that the friendships that I had I needed to cut them loose because they were holding back from God using me and they were no good for me, also that I was going to graduate from College. The part that I left out was that I was on academic probation that's how bad my grades were so the word about me graduating was on point and made me say GET IT TOGETHER Z!Long story short I go back to school the following day and the people who I thought were my friends turned on me, things started to get weird, they would exclude me out of things, ignore me, run my name through the mud, they attacked me verbally one girl attacked me physically. Not going to lie at first I was hurt, lost, confused about why all this was happening to me, but I know God knew that I was stubborn and rebellious at the time and would not separate myself like he commanded me to so he had to take matters into his own hands. Unfortunately some of us need to learn the hard way.Looking back into my past and the decision I've made the friendships I've lost and gained it was all a blessing in disguise, even though at the time I didn't see it as that. There comes a time where we all need to sit still and do a self evaluation. When we want to grow and mature in areas in Christ and area's in our lives especially as men and women in Christ, we need to look around us and see what or who is hindering us and remove accordingly. It can be difficult especially if you are stuck in your ways. In 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, Be not deceived, evil communications corrupt good manners. We need to make a choice on whether we want to produce good fruit or produce barren and corrupt fruit. How do we expect to reach our purpose in life if we continue to be around people who aren't of a like mind as yourself or not trying to produce good fruit.It is very very important that we surround ourselves around believers who are going to push us, encourage us, hold us accountable and not sugar coat/ pat us on the back when we have messed up. Accountability is very important when it comes to maturing and growing in Christ. When we are held accountable we or let me speak for myself... I am more conscious of what I do because I know if I do something out of order I have to answer to someone. Most importantly i will have to give an account to God on Judgement Day! Revelations 20:12; And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.So I encourage everyone to get in the presence of God, seek his face and just do a self evaluation on your surroundings ( friendships, places you hang out, music you listen to ect) and see if you are adding good fruit or corrupt fruit to your life. Even if you ask God to show you the errors of your ways I know for a fact that he will. God want's to use every single one of us for a greater purpose and he is unable to use us if we choose to surround/ submit ourselves to things or people that are not submitted to him. xoxox...GOD BLESS <3