Have you ever noticed how differently you behave depending on who you're around?

Maybe there's a friend you spend an hour with, and by the time you leave them, you feel encouraged and happy. But there's another person you spend just thirty minutes with, and you leave them feeling frustrated, complaining about things you weren't even thinking about before.

Or perhaps there are certain things you find yourself doing when you're with particular people that you wouldn't normally do on your own.

It's interesting how that happens, isn't it?

We like to think our decisions are entirely our own. That we know what we believe, what we want, and the kind of people we're trying to become.

And to a large extent, that's true.

But sometimes we don't realize just how much the things and people around us are influencing the way we think and behave.

And that matters, especially when we're trying to make positive changes in our lives.

1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.”

That's an interesting warning because sometimes people influence us without us even realizing it.

Imagine starting a new job where your colleagues talk about everyone else's business. Someone leaves the room, and they immediately become the topic of conversation. At first, you feel uncomfortable with all the gossip. You might even tell yourself, I'm definitely not getting involved in that.

But give it a few months. You start laughing at the comments. And one day, you find yourself gossiping about other colleagues too.

Now, think about what happened there. Nobody forced you to join those conversations. But the more you listened to them, the easier it became to take part in them.

And it doesn't only happen with gossip. Spend enough time around people who constantly complain about everything, and you might find yourself becoming more negative, complaining about things that never used to bother you.

That's why we need to be careful about the influences we allow into our lives. Not everyone who influences you is deliberately trying to lead you in the wrong direction. Sometimes it's simply the way they're used to behaving. But the more time you spend around them, the more their habits and attitudes begin to rub off on you.

The worrying part is that you can believe something is wrong while becoming increasingly comfortable doing it.

Our environment isn't just about the people we spend time with. It also includes what we watch, what we listen to, and the things we give our attention to every day.

You could be perfectly happy with how your life is going, until one evening you pick up your phone and start scrolling through social media. You see that someone has just bought their first home. Another person is getting married. Someone else is on vacation, while another is celebrating a big career achievement. And before you know it, your entire mood changes.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with celebrating these milestones, and everyone's journey is different. But isn't it interesting how quickly seeing what other people have achieved can make us question our own progress? Just a few minutes ago, you were perfectly content with your life. Nothing about your circumstances has changed, yet somehow, you now feel like you're falling behind.

The same can happen with other things we enjoy watching. Take reality shows, for example. We watch people flirt with someone else's partner, betray each other's trust, or deliberately embarrass someone just to get a reaction. And when these behaviors are constantly presented as funny or entertaining, we can become so accustomed to them that we start carrying some of those attitudes into our own relationships. We begin testing people's loyalty, questioning their intentions without good reason, or turning small disagreements into arguments that never needed to happen.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

We cannot control every thought that enters our minds, but we can be more intentional about what we expose ourselves to. Sometimes that means being willing to give up something we enjoy when we recognize the effect it's having on us.

Now, this doesn't mean you need to cut people off or give up everything you enjoy watching. And sometimes, you can't simply walk away from an environment that's affecting you negatively. You may have family members who don't share your beliefs or circumstances you have little control over.

But even when you can't change your surroundings, you can still be careful about what you allow to influence you.

You don't have to join every conversation, follow every trend, or adopt certain attitudes simply because everyone around you seems comfortable with them.

And where you do have a choice, make it count. Spend more time with people who encourage you to grow in your faith. Be mindful of what you watch and listen to, and pay attention to the habits you're picking up from those around you.

Proverbs 13:20 says, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”

Sometimes, making positive changes in your life also means making changes to the people and things you allow to influence you.

Here's something worth considering.

If you look back at the person you were a few years ago, you'll probably notice how much you've changed. Some of those changes came from decisions you deliberately made. Others may have come from the people you spent time with and the things you gradually became used to.

Now imagine continuing with those same influences for another five years.

Would you be happy with the person you're becoming?

It's a question worth asking because we often think about where we want to be in five years, but rarely consider whether our everyday surroundings are helping us get there.

You may not be able to change everything around you, but you can start being more intentional about what you allow to shape your life.

✝ Kingdom Mantra

Is there something or someone in your life right now that you know is influencing you more than you’d like to admit? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to reply to this email or leave a comment on our website.

And as always, if there's anything you'd like me to pray with you about, I'd be happy to. God bless you. ❤️