Day 9: How to Discern if a Person Should Stay or Go

If you are trying to discern if a person should stay in your life or leave it, consider this:

Do you want their lifestyle?

This question is vital because, if you do not desire the life that someone has, you should not spend time receiving from them. The Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

So, when people are talking to you, their talk is a reflection of what is in their hearts.

And the reflection of their life is a result of what they say.

They created the life that they live with their tongue. If you do not desire what they have built with their tongue, why are you subjecting yourself and yoking yourself to their words?

Do not be unequally yoked.

The concept of being unequally yoked is the image of two oxen yoked together—one that is strong and one that is weak. When it is time to walk forward, the stronger oxen will be strong enough to hold the other one up, but will eventually be burdened with doing the work of two oxen alone, as well as carrying the dead weight of the weaker oxen.

Walk with the wise and become wise.

If you do not want their life, do not accept their advice because you will become who they are. This is a principle of wisdom found in Proverbs 13:20.

This means that there is an impartation that happens when you walk with someone. You will always become the total sum of the people surrounding you. This is why God will change your circle to change your level.

Reflect:

Do you ever feel heavy or drained after speaking with a particular person? Are you close friends with someone who lives contrary to the life you were called to live? How can two walk together unless they agree? If you don't want to become like them, then you must not receive impartation from them. Today, pray for wisdom to identify these people in your life and to remove their access to you in love.