Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the people we keep close to us. Not only our families, our children, our parents, or those we deeply care about, but also the people we consistently allow into our space.
Over time, these people influence us more than we often realise.
The conversations we listen to.
The thoughts we consume.
The energy we sit in.
All of it leaves a mark on who we are becoming.
Our time is precious, and how we spend it matters just as much as who we spend it with. Every environment we step into is shaping us in some way, whether we are aware of it or not.
Iron Sharpens Iron
There is a verse in the Bible that I’ve been sitting with:
“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)
That verse made me pause and ask some honest questions.
Growth happens when we surround ourselves with people and spaces that challenge us. Places that refine us. Conversations that stretch us. Environments that sharpen our thinking, our character, and our faith.
Some people and places in our lives are genuinely good. They are familiar. They are comfortable. They feel safe. But we still need to ask ourselves:
Am I being sharpened here, or am I just being trained?
Am I growing, or am I simply surviving within my routine and my circle?
This Is About Wisdom, Not Distance
This reflection is not about cutting people off.
It’s not about avoiding spaces out of pride, fear, or judgment.
It’s about wisdom.
Different seasons require different levels of access. Access to our time. Access to our energy. Access to our hearts. What was right for one season may not be what is required for the next.
God often uses seasons to reposition us — not just geographically, but relationally and mentally. And wisdom allows us to recognize when something needs to shift.
Alignment Is Chosen
In this season, I am choosing to be intentional.
Intentional about my circle.
Intentional about the environments I step into.
Intentional about how I spend my time and who I spend it with.
Alignment does not just happen. Alignment is chosen.
And those choices shape more than just today. They shape who we become tomorrow.
Reflection
Who or what has the most access to your time and energy right now? Ask yourself honestly: is this sharpening me, stretching me, and helping me grow into who God is calling me to be in this season?
