TITLE:  BUILDING RESILIENCE AGAINST NEGATIVE PEER INFLUENCE

The Bible verses for today’s devotional are:  (i). Proverbs 4:23-27, (ii). Proverbs 13:20 (NIV)

i “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

1. Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm

Devotional

Resilience is one of the skills you must develop and foster its growth to maturity. Resilience is the ability to withstand challenges and adversity without being devastated.  It is called the bounce-back-ability quotient.

In life you will experience negative peer pressures, it happens to everybody both young and old.  Chiamaka, a teenager was once asked how she overcame negative peer pressure in the boarding school and these were her very impressive responses;

• I know my values, beliefs and boundaries
• I am confident, satisfied and absolutely okay with being different, it’s  no challenge at all.
• I associate with my kind, people who have the same values, beliefs and lifestyle as mine.
• I don’t bother about negative influences. I concentrate my energy on influencing my peers positively.

Most of the time, teens succumb to negative peer pressure because they want to be accepted by a certain group of people they should never have anything to do with. They also entertain this Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO), but remember that you have the final say not by public opinion of what is the most important thing in your life per time.

Today’s basic scripture teaches you how to guard your heart and gain the bounce back ability. It is your sole responsibility. Be resilient!

Let us pray: 

Lord by the revelation of your word, I understand that it is your will that I should live above the pressures of this world. I receive grace to stay true to my values and beliefs. Amen

Here are a few reflective questions:

Have I ever had times I have let my guards down and allowed negative influence into my space? How did that experience make me feel? 

Please say these words of affirmation. Say them, mean them, own them and live them:  

I am of the generation that will influence the world positively.

 I wish you a beautiful day. Take good care of yourself and see you tomorrow

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