“Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So, David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”
Beloved leaders,
I have discovered that peer pressure can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending upon the caliber of your peers, if you have the kind of peers in your life that influence you towards a strong character, or integrity is constructive peer influence. Let’s unpack today’s message in a practical way.
THE INFLUENCE OF PEER PRESSURE CAN MAKE YOU OR BREAK YOU.
In fact, if your friends encourage you to follow the Lord’s will and to obey His commandments, then you’ll experience amazing peer pressure, and that’s an amazing influence. However, if you are connected with people who encourage you to do immature things, you’ll be confronted with a destructive type of peer pressure.
As you read this, allow the Lord, through today’s message, to speak to your heart. Whenever you feel pressured to do things or to say things that lead you away from God or the will of God for your life. Be advised that your life is heading in the wrong direction. If you're faced with a decision that doesn’t align with how you see yourself, make sure you always follow the values you hold for your higher self.
PEER PRESSURE IS SOMETHING EVERYONE WILL ENCOUNTER AT VARIOUS STAGES OF OUR LIVES.
Making decisions on your own is hard enough, but when other people get involved and try to pressure you one way or another, it can be even harder. People who are your age, like your classmates, are called peers. When they try to influence how you act, to get you to do something, it’s called peer pressure.
Everyone must deal with it, even adults, if the truth is told. The decision you make concerning peer pressure will impact your destiny. Let me alert you today, family and friends: you may pay a life-changing price unless you’ve made the right choice in peer relationships.
As you decide whom to follow, be determined to follow the Lord in all you choose. If you keep facing peer pressure and find it hard to handle, talk to someone you trust. Another life-changing point is: don’t feel guilty if you’ve made a mistake or two. Talking to a trusted person, parent, teacher, or school counselor can help you feel much better and prepare you for the next time you face peer pressure.
I have a special affinity for millennials and Gen Z’s and hope this message reaches you in love and the grace of God. In today’s biblical passage please notice David the King discerns one of his spiritual advisors has become corrupt and prays for God’s divine intervention. When choosing peer relationships, we need God's influence and His divine providence in good and bad times.
POINT TO PONDER
Peers really can influence your life, even if you don’t realize it, just by spending time with you. You learn from them, and they learn from you. It’s only human nature to listen to and learn from other people in your age group. Use great judgment when deciding who you will allow to influence you; it can make or break you. Today’s message is especially dedicated to my beloved Millennials and Generation Z.
SPECIAL THANKS:
Chief Encouragement Officer (CEO) James Baker, Jr., and our leadership team are incredibly thankful to those aligned with us. Help us equip this generation of leaders for their God-given assignments. Your generous donation supports our labor of love: From Grace and Truth Leadership's mission to embrace, empower, and encourage leaders and emerging leaders globally.