Put yourself inside your circle of closest acquaintances. Now, look around.
Who do you see?
Listen.
What do you hear? How did your heart feel as your eyes and ears processed observations of your relationships? Such a feeling may prove to be more revealing than any of us would ever want to acknowledge. More often than not, our surroundings define us. The old adage: “birds of a feather flock together” — it is true. Very true. Where we are and who we are with says much about the inner workings of our heart. Admittedly, you can be in the world but not of it, but often (because of the feeling of comfort that accompanies friendship), when relationship draws us into a culture, the characteristics of that culture impact the traits of our own identity. Very few people can surround themselves with sexually perverse friends and not also become immoral. (If not in action, then in heart.) The same goes for drugs, etc. Likewise, put yourself in relationships where people are constantly speaking mean, hateful, judgmental, negative, fear-filled, or condemning words, and if you are not beyond hard-headed in your intentions to lead them out, then in due season your mouth will produce the fruit of the seeds sown into your heart.
What do your surroundings say about you?
Are you pleased with what your observations say about you as a person?
Do you honestly feel good about who you are becoming?
No one is in control of your life but you. You have options. The only difference between a leader and a follower is attitude. If your relationships are leading you to feel dirty in your heart, convicted in your spirit, or guilty in your conscience… Then, it may be time for a change of scenery in your life! If the people around you won’t change, you still must.