One of the wisest persons in the Bible wrote the following words that have served me well in my life of ministry :
“The righteous choose their friends carefully, But the way of the wicked leads them astray.”  Proverbs 12:26

So important was this principle for his readers to take to heart, that he repeated it in varying ways through the book of Proverbs.
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” Proverbs 13:20
“A gossip betrays a confidence, so avoid anyone who talks too much.” Proverbs 20:19
“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, …

(11) “ EVERY TIME YOU SAY “YES”, YOU CAN ALSO BE SAYING “NO”.”

When I started out in ministry I wrongly believed that I was meant to be a servant to people, and that they had a right to my time. I was a “yes” person. But there came a time when I understood that although I was to be a servant to people, they were not my master. Jesus was my master and as such, was Lord of my time. I was accountable to Him. That proved to be quite a change in the way I used my time.
Gradually, I learned to order my time according to …

As I recently read this story, I couldn’t help being reminded of one of the great challenges that leaders need to be ready and equipped to face at critical times in their ministry. That being, what to do when your mates desert you? Paul describes this situation in 2 Timothy 4:16-17.
“At my first defence, NO ONE came to my support, but EVERYONE DESERTED me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.”

How could it be that this great leader could feel …