“Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” ~ Mark Ambrose
When people bottom out in life and come to the end of themselves, they possess a certain willingness they didn’t have even a few hours before. Still, that same willingness to repent can quickly fade if a certain attitude and a new set of actions aren’t adopted. There is an old saying, “keep doing what you are doing, and you’ll keep getting what your getting,” or “if nothing changes, nothing changes.” One of the first things an effective mentor/sponsor/accountability partner/trusted advisor will suggest is to change the people, places, and things in your life. Why? Because our heart is easily influenced by what and who we are around, e.g., if you hang out at the barbershop long enough, you’ll eventually get a haircut, it’s not complicated. We become what we think about most. If garbage goes in, then garbage must come out. It’s incredible how much better we feel when hanging around the winners in life who have a heart for God.
Once the disciples started following Jesus and other like-minded followers, their lives changed and would never be the same. God warns us to take care of our hearts, so our lives aren’t corrupted or ruined by what we allow in. We are the gatekeepers to our hearts. If evil gets in, it’s because we willingly opened the door. It’s essential every six months or so to ask ourselves these three important questions:
- Who and what are the people, places, and things that I am allowing to influence my life?
- How are these people, places, and things affecting my life, both positively and negatively?
- Lastly, is it okay, or do I need to make some immediate changes?
“You become like the five people you spend the most time with. Choose carefully.” ~ Jim Rohn
When reflecting on these questions, it’s crucial to have an accountability partner, mentor/sponsor, or trusted advisor to bounce this stuff off with, so you make wise choices. You want to choose the best options for your life. If you are living the kingdom life, then people will come and go. Your living example will threaten many people, and others will become more interested in pursuing the things of this world and less interested in helping usher in the kingdom of God. Regardless of their reasons, they will become strangers to you. Sometimes, you need to step back and ultimately limit your time around certain people, places, or things, or avoid them altogether. The heart of the problem is a problem with the heart. We can improve our condition by making kingdom choices for our lives, including choosing to hang around those who are champions for the kingdom of God. It’s not easy to make these changes, but that the end of the day, you’ll be glad you did, and so will your heart. I hope you take this spiritual exercise seriously and do it regularly. With God’s help, you will choose wisely and realize the positive effects almost immediately.
Scripture Readings
Reflection Questions
- What did you take away from the reflection and scripture readings?
- Who are the five people you spend the most time with?
- Who are your friends? Your friends reveal your future!
- What changes to people, places, and things have you made in your past?
- What changes to people, places, and things need to happen quickly for your benefit?
- Who is your mentor/sponsor/trusted advisor, etc.? Have you discussed these changes with them? If no, why not?
Prayer
Lord, You have granted me the gift of free will, to choose as I wish the people, places, and things I will allow into my heart. You chose me before I chose You, and I am so grateful for our relationship. Today I am asking for the desire to make the necessary changes I need to make with the people, places, and things that I am allowing to influence and shape my life. Please grant me the humility to get honest with myself and others about the changes I need in my life. Please give me the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. In Your Spirit and Name, I pray these things. May Your will not mine, always materialize, now and forever, Amen.
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