If we are to keep our minds renewed with the Word of God and live the high life, we must be wise when it comes to who we hang around, who we date, who we marry, who we live with, who we work with, and who we trust with our lives.
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
(Prov. 21:23)
The devil is your enemy! He is nothing but a troublemaker, and this verse of Scripture is telling us that a key to keeping trouble away from our souls is to watch what comes out of our mouths. The enemy knows that he can do only what human beings give him permission to do. So if we speak trouble, we give him permission to make trouble.
If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
(Prov. 30:32)
If you have a wrong thought, put your hand over your mouth. Don't speak it out! The enemy gave you that thought because he wants you to release it into the Earth. He wants you to grant him permission to do that evil thing.
I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
(Ps. 39:1)
David lays it right on the line here. The devil is before him, introducing evil thoughts, and he is refusing to utter any of it. He will not speak evil.

Many times the devil is standing before people. They can't see him because he's a spirit, and he's waiting on authorization to do something terrible in the Earth. Because we have dominion over the Earth, he has to get our permission, which comes through our speech. So he tries to get us to speak the evil thought he gave us.
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
(Prov. 22:24-25)
An angry, furious person—someone who has allowed their offense or their hurt to rule their soul—cannot be your friend. If you hang around an individual who refuses to forgive, who will not submit to God's Word or His Spirit, then you are having fellowship with the enemy. You are opening your soul to be influenced by the devil.

God is letting you know where the danger to your soul lies. This is His wisdom. He is telling you this to keep you safe. Your angry friend is being used by the enemy to steal your destiny, your family, your money, and your heritage.

If you receive and begin to speak the angry words of your friend, you will give the devil permission to wreak havoc in your life and other people's lives.

A lot of people think they know more than God. They think they can withstand the angry person. Or maybe it is the sexy person! Maybe it is the highly intelligent person. Maybe it is the person really gifted in sports or in the arts. But the enemy is using them to draw you away from God into his evil influence.

If you are saved, you don't need to be dating and getting close to a person who is not saved. If you are married you don't need to be going out and partying after hours with people other than your spouse.

One of the first things you say is, "Well, I'm gonna get them saved." As a pastor I hear that all the time—especially after the tragedy. "Well, Pastor, I thought that if I went out with him and got close to him, then he would see Jesus' love in me and get saved. I never thought I would end up pregnant and alone like this."

Or I hear, "Oh, Pastor, I wish I had never started going to that bar with the people I work with. I never thought I'd end up in a rehab center. I really thought I was going to get those people saved."

I'm not saying we should never associate with unbelievers. But let's have some wisdom in it! Unbelievers are not supposed to be our mates, our best friends, our business partners, our girlfriends, or our boyfriends. Who we have intimate contact with is a big part of guarding our souls.

If we are to keep our minds renewed with the Word of God and live the high life, we must be wise when it comes to who we hang around, who we date, who we marry, who we live with, who we work with, and who we trust with our lives.

We can stay safe by continually asking ourselves, Who's got my soul?

Source: Transform Your Thinking, Transform Your Life by Dr. Bill Winston
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers