Environment Is So Important

One of my goals for 2024 is to connect more. My goal to connect is not only with family and friends but to also improve my relationship with God. Each morning before I start my day, I read a daily devotion from Joshua Dubois’s book, The President’s Devotional. Joshua Dubois was the Former White House Director of Faith-Based and Neighbourhood Partnerships. Joshua would email then President Barack Obama every morning a daily meditation with a snippet of Scripture from the Bible for Obama to reflect on. This weekend’s devotion, The Thorns, resonated with me. It covered a story about a farmer in Luke 8:4-8 who went out to sow his seeds. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate them up. Some fell on the rocky ground and only grew to be withered plants because they didn’t get any moisture. Other seeds fell among thorns which grew up with them and choked the plants. Finally, other seeds grew on good soil and were able to multiply. The moral of the story is that it does not matter how strong you are; your environment is critical to your development and growth. Therefore, it is important to be careful where you spend your time and who you spend your time with. I am truly grateful for my family and friends and more recently the Bible study group that I am part of. It is so important to be around people who are positive, good hearted, and are willing to hold you accountable. So as you navigate life; remember to make sure that you choose your environment carefully.