"Good people take advice from their friends, but an evil person is easily led to do wrong."
~Proverbs 12:26

First off, let me say this: I am NOT perfect (far from it). I've done some of these things, but I'm trying my best to be as godly as I can. But here lately, I have seen so many of my friends becoming a puppet of this world. Their actions, their words, their music, their relationships, and much more.

"Do not change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect."
~Romans 12:2

First thing: I see friends acting like homosexuals. WHY? It's not funny - at all. Why act like something that God despises?

I see friends talking so much like the world. Talking like they are "gay", and other things. I hear friends "cussing". Cussing doesn't build anyone up in the Lord (Ephesians 4:29). I am trying to improve on my "by words" because they are just about the same thing to me.

Music. WOW. There is so much music that is anything BUT godly! The music may have a good beat, but that's how the devil pulls you in. He gives you a good beat, but listen to the lyrics that come along with it. I chose a while back to stop listening to the music I listened to that had ungodly or non biblical lyrics. So far that has been great! It has helped me in my walk tremendously! I cannot stand listening to music that is so ungodly! What you put into your head will come right out of your mouth. You'll start believing those lyrics. You'll talk like those lyrics. Hopefully, you can try to stop listening to that music.

I mean, we are here for GOD and to do HIS will. Does He really want us to listen to music that goes against everything we are supposed to believe in as a "Christian"? We need to examine ourselves to the BIBLE. We see other "Christians" listening to this music that are supposed to be godly people. We look up to them and are like, "well, I guess I can do it to since ____ is doing it." NO! As Christians, we are supposed to be IN the world, but not OF it.

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If you love the world, the love of the Father is not in you."
~1 John 2:15

We are supposed to be different. People are supposed to see Christ in us! If I was not a Christian, and saw many of you go about your daily routine, half of the time, I would believe you were as worldly as the rest of the "nonbelievers". We are supposed to be godly in EVERY PART OF OUR LIVES. Not just at church or other religious functions or around our Christian friends. ALL THE TIME!!

I'm not going to even get into relationships. Those are going out of style - quickly! That's all I'm gonna say about those - for now.

Here's a song from Casting Crowns - this is my prayer for YOU and I hope it's your prayer for me. God bless!

"Lord, I lift my friend to You, I've done all that I know to do
I lift my friend to You
Complicated circumstances have clouded his view
Lord, I lift my friend up to You
I fear that I won't have the words that he needs to hear
I pray for Your wisdom, oh God, and a heart that's sincere
Lord I lift my friend up to You
Lord, I lift my friend to You
My best friend in the world, I know he means much more to You
I want so much to help him, but this is something he has to do
And Lord, I lift my friend up to You
'Cause there's a way that seems so right to him
But You know where that leads
He's becoming a puppet of the world, too blind to see the strings
Lord, I lift my friend up to You
My friend up to You
Lord, I lift my friend to You, I've done all that I know to do
I lift my friend to You"

Title: Prayer for a Friend
By: Casting Crowns
(copyright My Refuge Music/Club Zoo Music/SWECS Music)

Your friend and bro. in Christ,
Rod