In Acts 3, a crippled man had been lying by the temple gate for years begging for money. The apostle Peter came by and said, “I don’t have any money for you, but in the name of Jesus rise and walk.” Nothing happened. The man just looked at Peter, thinking, “What do you mean? I can’t walk.” That could’ve been the end of the story. Peter could have thought, “I did my part, but it didn’t work.” But the Scripture says, “Peter took him by the right hand and lifted him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankle bones healed.” Peter wouldn’t let the man stay down. He prayed, and then he pulled him up.
You need some friends like Peter who won’t let you stay down. When you’re in the pits, when you can’t get up on your own, you don’t need people who will feel sorry for you and tell sad stories together in the pits. You need people who will pull you out of that pit. You need people who love you so much they won’t let you make excuses. They won’t let you stay discouraged or addicted or let you give up on your dream. They not only pray but pull you up.
I believe that’s why so many people listen to our broadcasts because you know we’re always going to pull you up. You may be down, but we’re not going to let you stay down. We’re going to say, “Get up! There are new levels. You’ve been hurt, but get up. God has beauty for ashes. You had a disappointment, but get up. God has a new beginning.” You need people who will pull you into your destiny. If you’re crippled in some area, and you surround yourself with other people like you, there’s no one to help up. You have to get around somebody stronger, somebody more successful, somebody free, so they can lift you.
You may need to change who you’re hanging around with. God has ordained some people to pull you up. Don’t sit around in a dysfunction with other dysfunctional people the rest of your life. The right person is in place. Now you make the first move. Get out of a negative environment, get away from people who are enabling your dysfunction and holding you back, get away from people who tell you where you are is where you’ll always be. Be selective about what you take in all day; stay in an environment of faith. If you do this, you’re going to see increase, new levels, new relationships, new talents, and the fullness of your destiny.