As we experience life with God in recovery we need to consider the people we spend time with and the emotional impact they have on us.
Do not be joined to unbelievers. What do right and wrong have in common? Can light and darkness be friends? So come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch anything that is not pure and clean. Then I will receive you. (2 Corinthians 6:14, 17 NIRV)
Do the people we associate with uplift others or, are they more likely to gossip, complain, and find fault? Are we talking with them about problems and reliving war stories or, speaking truth and encouraging one another? Anger has a particularly infectious impact. When we spend time with angry people, it's easy to pick up their anti-social traits of responding negatively and harshly.
Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. (Colossians 4:6 NLT)
What about the content of what we watch or read, the lyrics of the music on our phones and tablets? Advertisers pay millions of dollars for seconds of time in various media because they know how influential media is. We've all heard the slogan "Garbage in, Garbage out." God has strong words about the shadowy content we allow into our lives.
God says: But just look at what is happening! You put your trust in worthless lies. You steal and murder; you lie in court and are unfaithful in marriage. You worship idols and offer incense to Baal, when these gods have never done anything for you. And then you come into my temple and worship me! Do you think I will protect you so that you can go on sinning? You are thieves, and you have made my temple your hideout. But I’ve seen everything you have done. (Jeremiah 7:8-11 CEV)
Mixing darkness and light is a recipe for shadowy discontent and inevitable relapse. God calls us away from people, places, and forms of media that are filled with sinful indulgence. We need to find new activities, new places to gather, a new circle of acquaintances and friends, and new sources of nourishment for our heart and soul.
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