Opinion Or Counsel

Love you all, praying for you,
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What kind of counsel do you give?  Do you give counsel that encourages people toward humility, and obedience, to surrender to God’s will for their life, or God’s best for them?  Or does your counsel encourage them in taking offense, self-trust, or the excuse of things that are not God’s best?  There are a lot of options out there for people – to think or believe or do.  Do you promote strife or unity, do you promote pride or humility, do you promote surrender or stupidity.  There are plenty of friends who will commiserate with you – and let you wallow in your attitude…  "How could they say that?  Are you going take that?  Who do they think they are!"  This helps no one, least of all the one who needs Godly counsel.  God said, the pleasantness of ones friend springs from their earnest counsel. (Proverbs 27:9)  Sometimes the best counsel is painful.  Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but an enemy multiplies kisses. (Proverbs 27:6)   Better open rebuke than hidden love. (Proverbs 27:5)  The value of friendship comes from the counsel they give you.  What counsel do you give?  Is it Godly counsel?  God is a God of humility.  He is a God of righteousness, and holiness.  Every friend gives counsel.  You can tell your friends by their counsel.  You can tell someone by the counsel they give, and the counsel they heed.  Proverbs 15:31 – He who listens to life-giving rebuke will dwell among the wise.  Proverbs 12:1 – Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.  That why it is so important to choose friends who are humble obeyers, not ‘do their own thing'-ers.  Praying that you will seek and heed Godly counsel, that God will give you discernment between the two.  The more you heed counsel, the better your counsel will be.  Praying that you will soak in God’s Word constantly.  It’s wisdom, and those who speak truth, speak His Word.  Those who give Godly counsel, are the ones who know His Word, and are faithful in the decisions they make. Who seek Him with their whole heart, turn from anything that isn’t His best, and humble themselves before the LORD and others.  These are the friends to have, that give earnest counsel – that will protect you and encourage you in the best that God has for you.  Praying that you will give good counsel, because you have made it a habit to heed. 
 
Love you all,
dad