Who Do I Become When I Hang Out With You? – Fola Folayan

I never used to pay much attention before. But about a year ago, i had some friends and something happened that made me re-evaluate that friendship. it made me look inwards and take a hard critical look at myself.

I discovered i was changing. I was morphing into a character my environment was creating. I was becoming influenced by the words i was hearing, the attitudes of those i was hanging out with and i had over time, put on a cloak of criticism and condemnation.

I didn’t like it. so i stepped away. i kept my distance and started to learn how to let God clean me up and detoxify me. i didn’t understand how deep it was until recently when the lord started to talk to me again about how our associations can either cover us in grace or take us out of the covering.

Do you remember that Potiphar’s household was blessed because Joseph lived there? (Genesis 39:5) do you also remember that Solomon’s heart was turned from God because of the foreign women he entangled himself with? (1 Kings 11:4)

Who do you allow access to your life? Whoever has access to your life will influence your thoughts, attitude, habits and character. they can either attract God’s grace or they can block your blessings.

Hanging around negative and critical people attracts more negativity. It’s a spiritual principle of sowing and reaping. when you give grace, you attract grace.

We are not all perfect on this christian journey and we are all at different stages of our individual journey. while we recognize that and are careful not to become self-righteous, the question “who am i becoming”? must always be asked.

Be introspective; who are you when you are with your friends? how does your personality change when you spend time with certain people? what are the prevalent attitudes to life, to relationship with others?

Remember in everything, the character of Jesus is the measure. whatever or whoever we are becoming, the destination is HIM.