Toxic Friends (Toxic Connections)

"Toxic Friends (Toxic Connections)" | Boldness & Virtue (Episode 4):

(View this video below.)

       Episode Four: "Toxic Friends." I will be sharing my very own testimony about how a toxic friend risked my life. My story also includes a miracle—with proof! Most was filmed in August; I had to return to it in September. This was a difficult story for me to share. However, I gladly share in obedience to the LORD.

       First, these topics will be addressed (everything addressed also applies to your family life, your love life, etc.):

—A toxic individual defined.

—Three things a true friend demonstrates: Love, Respect, and Support (with thorough elaborations).

—What does God's Word say about our connections—both healthy and toxic?

—Corruption from friends.

—Are you being a true friend to yourself?

The following will also be addressed:

—Having a History Together: Does having a history together mean that you should remain in each other's lives?

—Words and Actions: Is your friend toxic?

—Forgiveness in combination with being wise and being led by God, regarding a person's position or presence in your life.

***WARNING***: Graphic and possibly triggering images and talk about health, skin, and weight issues are ahead.

       Get comfortable! Don't forget your bibles (or bible apps)! Scriptures will be shown and referenced on screen! So, if you'd like to, feel free to take personal notes!

       I love you all, but God loves you BEST of all! May God bless you all!

"New Beginnings and Loneliness":

       Let's discuss new beginnings and loneliness. The closer you become with God, you might notice your circle of friends and the number of people you have in your personal life becoming smaller. This is normal! Do not be discouraged! In fact, this is a good thing. God's Word tells us this:

Galatians 6:14 (NLT):

14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.

       Your circle becoming smaller, people exiting your life (especially toxic people), people showing their true toxic colors, and even people betraying you—these are all good signs! God is just filtering your life! He is revealing toxic people to you! Stumbling blocks are being removed! You losing interest in the world and the world losing interest in you means this: not only are you going in the right direction, but you are also growing in the right direction!

       You are in transition: It is time for you to grow even more! It is time for your life to flourish according to God's perfect will for your life! While this process might hurt, it is so necessary for your spiritual walk! The presence of certain people and influences can delay, stunt, or halt your growth!

       The exiting of certain people from your life also means the exiting of the following: Delays, stumbling blocks, distractions from God's plans and growth, people who drain you physically and spiritually, bad habits, an unhealthy lifestyle, low self-esteem and low confidence levels (some people can destroy your self-view with their toxic words, actions, and treatment), demonic attacks (some people have certain spirits within them and around them that could attack you), and much more!

       Letting go of certain people and spending alone time with God in prayer and studying His Word, and spending time with yourself, causes you to grow—spiritually, emotionally, and mentally; your outlook on life can change in beautiful ways, if you embrace this transition. God's Word says this:

Philippians 4:7-9 (NLT):

7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

       You have a brand new life when you accept Jesus Christ into your heart! You are a whole new creature! Is life always going to be easy? No. Are you always going to be loved, provided for, Guided, comforted, and led in the right direction? Yes. God does this for you! You are empowered by God's precious Holy Spirit! You have everything you ever need in our Heavenly Father, God: You are already complete! Now, trust God to fulfill you and bless you with the desires of your heart, according to God's perfect will for your life! He will do this with love!

       God can replace. God can also cause your life to flourish in beautiful ways. When it is time for your life to become more full (whatever that means for your life); when it is time for you to meet a new friend, enter into that relationship with your God-ordained future spouse, have children, enter into a great business partnership, meet someone to enjoy hobbies with, find a new church family, become close with a family member, and so on—according to God's perfect will and timing, and with God's love wrapped within it all—it will happen. Be patient, trust God's process.

A Quick Message of Compassion and Encouragement for Leaders:

       While leadership is a blessing and it can also be fun, it is still a serious task, as you have to lead others—and not everyone likes to be led (instructed, told what to do, corrected, or guided). The position of a leader can be a lonely one, not only because of a sometimes full schedule—but also because you might not always be so popular with or in the good graces of others:

You have to tell people "no." You have to correct people. You have to tell people truths that hurt, and while it will be what they need to hear—it will not always be what they want to hear. God will lead you to tell people things that will convict their hearts, and they will not like the feeling. You will have to battle with other people's pride. You might get blamed for things you should not be getting the blame for. You might have to play middle-man (or middle-woman), and someone or everyone involved will not like your choices or words. Depending on the authority you have been entrusted with, at times, you will even have to discipline people, suspend people, and take away positions. People might feel disappointed, hurt, or let down by you—even if their feelings toward you are entirely unfair.

       Please know that God sees, knows, and hears it all. Through it all, let us remain obedient to the LORD. Seek Him for comfort whenever you need to, as the Holy Spirit is our Comforter. Remain prayerful and always seek the LORD about everything, as He will provide answers, Guidance, and peace. We always have a friend in Jesus Christ. Just as stated in the previous section, in short: God can provide just whom you need, and just at the right time you need them!

       Also remember to keep this in mind: God sees your work; and He knows your love for Him, your love for people, your compassion, your intentions, and your heart; and He is not insensitive to or unaware of how tired you can become or how hurt you have been. God rewards our faithfulness: 

Galatians 6:9-10 (NLT):

 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

       God also rewards our obedience:

Luke 5:3-10 (NLT):

3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.

Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!”

       What Jesus said in the last verse leads us to our last point: Other people and their precious souls benefit from our obedience to the LORD! No matter how much opposition we get, no matter how many times someone gets mad at us, know this: There is someone, even some of the people who get mad at us, who will grow from the leadership God has entrusted us with!

       We will conclude this with a few verses that are added at the end of every Boldness & Virtue episode; verses that remind us of how very important and precious our God-entrusted gifts, and each and every one of us precious souls whom God created, truly are. Keep all of these things in mind, and may you be blessed in every way:

What is Boldness & Virtue?

       All glory to God: Boldness & Virtue is a show the LORD led me to create to express that all of life's answers are in the Word of God! There will be biblical teachings, testimonies, story times, advice, and more! I am as personal and as candid as the Holy Spirit leads me to be. This show also presents great opportunities to get into and study the Word of God! Scriptures will be shown and referenced on-screen during each show for your own personal studies, note-taking, and learning! It is so very important to keep God first in our lives, to accept Jesus Christ into our hearts as our LORD and Savior and also follow His beautiful example, and to always be led by the Holy Spirit in every area of our lives—and Boldness & Virtue encourages and teaches all of this!

       A few examples of the topics that will be addressed are the following: Celibacy, feeling incomplete, living with purpose, forgiveness, and toxic friends. So, get ready! We are about to talk about life and big topics! All of our life answers can certainly be found in the Word of God, and we are about to explore!

       Humbly said, I cannot wait to share all that God places in my spirit to share with you all! My goal is not to be idolized: My goal is for GOD to be glorified! I am just a vessel for the LORD, a child of the King in service to my dear Heavenly Father, God—who loves God, creativity, and talking! To GOD be all the glory and praise!

       *Please note: Boldness & Virtue is a "show" by definition and format only (there is an intro, a theme song, different segments, etc.). While God does have a sense of humor and He loves joyfulness and fun—God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, is not a form of entertainment and will not be mocked. A "show" is just what God asked me to present for Him, and I am humbly glad to do so.

       Welcome to Boldness & Virtue! My name is Charrese Monique, and I am so glad God brought you here! All glory to God, may you be blessed as you watch the show!

Thank you for visiting! Please come back soon!

In Service to My Dear Heavenly Father, God

With Love,
Charrese Monique

Copyright 2019, Charrese Monique. All Rights Reserved.