Life Plan Devotion #128 [Friends make a difference]

Psalm 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers" (NIV).

Verse 3 of Psalm 1:1-3 should look familiar. It is rather like verse 8 of Jeremiah 17:7-8, which we looked at in our previous devotion. These verses, that open the Book of Psalms, describe the "blessed" man in terms of what he does not do, what he does, and what the result is if he follows through (lining up himself/herself with the Word of God).
Let's look at what a blessed man/woman does not do, as expressed in the Amplified Version. "Blessed (Happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather" (Psalm 1:1, Amplified). It matters with whom you associate (in strong friendship) and "follow" (in character and manner of living).
If you follow the "do" parts of the Bible, you won't even have to be concerned about the "don't" parts. "But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night" (Psalm 1:2, Amplified). Does that sound familiar?
We've already seen that to be "blessed" means to be "happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable," and that is reinforced by the result of following the "don't part" (v.1) and the "do part" (v. 2). "And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]" (Psalm 1:3, Amplified).
If you desire to prosper in all you do, be a "firmly planted" tree, allow the Holy Spirit and the Word to "tend" you, and watch your life bear "fruit in its season" (i.e., when the time is right).

What this has to do with weight loss: Sometimes, after weight-loss surgery, you cannot associate with the same people you did before. Sometimes your surgery results change the way "friends" see you and react to you. Your surgery will change you, definitely, hopefully all for the better. Relationships may go through a time of adjustment. That's all right. Work on them. If, however, there is a friend who is not supportive, who, rather, tries to sabotage your weight-loss journey, be honest about what you need from him/her, and if he/she cannot or will not change, you may have to let go of that friendship. I know these issues are tough, but your True Friend, Jesus, will help you through them, if you let Him.

Confession:
I'm careful with whom I associate, choosing to spend my time learning from God's Word, and the result is that I am blessed and prosperous in all that I do.