In a friendship, the people involved should both be changing for the better (Proverbs 27:17 & 19). If God isn’t in your friendship, it either won’t last or it will pull you down. Surround yourself with good, godly people. Let their good habits rub off on you. Strive be a person that is good and godly, and let your good habits rub off on others.
Do you have good friends? One way to know how good your friends are is to listen to them speak. If they tell you the truth and they tell it straight, even and especially when you don’t want to hear it, then you should keep them. They tell you these things because they love you and want you to do well.
Watch your friends’ actions, too. If they say one thing and do another, don’t hang around them as closely. Be there for them if they need you, and be a good example, but don’t let bad habits rub off on you.
Recently a few of my own friends have been changing me. It is a long, slow, process – I’m stubborn. But they are showing me things about me that I could stand to improve. They are challenging me to learn new things and to really look at what I already know. I’m thankful I have them, even if it looks like I’m irritated. God is using them, and I’m trusting God to guide me.
While God can and will change you directly from Himself at times, at other times He will use your friends. Keep your good friends that God gave you. But still keep in mind that God is the friend that will always be the best for you (Proverbs 18:24).