Day 99 – The Counsel of the Righteous Refreshes the Soul

‘Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.’ Proverbs 27:9

Do not fall into that trap of thinking your friends do not influence you. It is important to surround yourself with friends that will refresh your soul.

As the fragrance of a bottle of perfume cannot be contained, the influence your friends have on you cannot be restrained; it will rub off on you. If you surround yourself with haughty people, you will find yourself becoming haughty; surround yourself with slothful people and you stand the risk of becoming a sloth yourself. Naturally, you will adopt some of the behaviours of the friends you keep, negative or positive; so surround yourself with friends that will give you godly counsel. Psalms 1:1 in the Good News Version says:

‘Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God’.

Choose the kind of people you go out for lunch with and sit with at coffee tables every day, watch the conversation you contribute to, and be careful about the jokes you crack with them. Also, in choosing a mentor, consider both their gifts and their character – this is wisdom. Have a great day.