Falling into temptation

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, because of such things G0d's wrath has come on those who are disobedient. Therefore, do not be partners with them."
(Ephesians 5:6-7)



These 2 verses spoke to me the moment I flipped the bible open. It's pretty crazy because I needed this, relating to what happened today...

I did something bad that I didn't plan on doing or even wanted to do. I'm pretty damn ashamed of it.

I was hanging out with a very close friend of mine at the mall. We were shopping and we always shop together. All the times I've shopped with her, she's always done the "5 finger discount"... and I used to always convince her not to do it... and she has given me stuff before that she's stolen -_-"... Anyway, she's never told me to do it until recently, where she really pressured me to do it. We were at H&M and tried on clothes. I really liked this one top and she really liked it on me too.. but the price wasn't so lovely, so I decided to not purchase it. She comes right at me and the rips off the tag and the security thing on it and gives me that look... (she was able to do this because there were no employees in the fitting room at that moment) I told her I wouldn't do it... but she kept saying to do it over and over. I stood my ground for 10 minutes telling her I wouldn't do it. What made it so tempting was because she already gave me a head start. If the tag and stuff was still on it, I wouldn't do it at all, but because I had one more step which is to put it in my bag... I should just do it. Which I ended up doing... and felt like crapola for the rest of the day (that was just the beginning of our shopping too...) I did not feel good at all about it.. I wanted to repent right away and never to do it again. My friend told me "It's my fault, not yours, I made you do it" but that doesn't change the fact that I still put that thing in my bag! I still stole something... and for me to do that, I obviously wanted it and wanted to do it.. blah. Not cool.

Anyway, back to that verse... I confessed to a couple of friends and even Pastor about this situation. The last verse "Do not be partners with them" was like... DANG yo. Pastor told me it's literal and I shouldn't be assicioated with people like them because they're sinning which may also influence me to sin too, but that's hard! I can't cut off a friend like that, especially when she is really close to me. She is a nice girl and has done a lot for me, but the things she does are bad.. but I was never influenced to do anything t'll that day.. that was the first time she has ever told me to do something bad or pressured me. People have told me I should listen to Pastor but that's something I cannot do. I guess I'll just be the light for her and somehow get her to stop instead. I won't let her influence me but hoping that maybe I can influence her... but man! I was really disappointed at myself for even falling into temptation like that! I usually am strong, but I guess I still have weak spots that I need to work on to stand strong with my morals. GAHHHH.. never again!
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