Show Me Your Friends, and I will Show You Your Future

Five years into our marriage, my husband and I were in a lull with our spiritual growth.  We attended church on Sunday and had a couple of Godly acquaintances in our life, but nothing substantial.  Our evenings were filled with hanging out watching the latest crime show, sitcom or movie, surrounding our self with good friends, yet not heading in the direction where we wanted to grow.  We wanted our marriage to flourish, reflect God, and reflect that we were true followers of Jesus Christ, but what we were filling our minds with and the people we surrounded ourselves with would not lead us to that destination. We needed a new direction.

First, the things we were listening to and watching had to change. They were not always things that were glorifying God and bringing peace and value to our lives. Instead, they lead to worries, unhealthy thoughts, feelings, and opinions that did not align with God’s Word.  You see, like a dripping faucet that can slowly fill a sink overtime, we can slowly come to identify with the things of this world more than our identity in Christ. The Bible tells us in Colossians 3:2 we are to set our minds on things above, not just on earthly things, and to put to death anything that is of our earthy nature.

Second, we had to evaluate who was in our circle of influence. Were they encouraging us in God’s word?  Were they the example of someone going toward our desired future?  It was time to get involved and connect with those who identified as followers of Christ.

We made a change. What we chose uplifting things to watch on tv and to listen to in the car..  We stopped being only Sunday Church goers and made new connections and good friends through small group Bible studies.  Now, let me be clear.   This was not to create a “holier than thou” attitude and disconnect from the things of the world. Let’s be honest, a good Netflix show for me is a must from time to time.  Nor did it mean we were to isolate ourselves and not be a light to unbelievers,  but we had to step back and ask ourselves, “what do we want to be known for? How do we want to be identified? Does our life reflect that each day?”

Created Woman, if we have chosen to follow Christ, then we have a new identity  in Him.  I encourage you to pause and ask yourself  if if what you watch and read reflects who you are  and what you want to be. Does your circle of influence and those you do life with identify you as a follower of Christ?

Now 20 years later with two teenagers, my husband and I share this truth; “show me your friends, and I will show you your future.” May we remember these words from Proverbs: “Walk with the wise and become wise, associate with fools and get in trouble.” (Proverbs 13:20, NIV)

1. Think about what you fill your mind with each day with what you listen to and watch. What emotions and thoughts do they evoke in you?  How do they build your faith?
   

2. What are some things you may need to let go of to keep your mind set on God and not the things of this world?
   

3. Assess your circle of influence. How do they identify themselves? What are some changes, if any, that you may need to make to create a circle of friends who are following Christ?

“Walk with the wise and become wise, associate with fools and get in trouble” (Proverbs 13:20, NIV)

Crystal Breaux

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