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Sportswear from Tj Maxx from my good friend Shontell

Being in a relationship whether it's romantic friendship family Church leadership the expectation is mutual Exchange of respect love and honor. Unfortunately for people who have been severely damaged during childhood they've entered into a space that we all today called narcissism I don't know what it was called in the past but unfortunately for these people they have the inability to receive or exchange love their only able to mimic it for their purposes of being accepted in society. It is not something you did there's nothing you can do to make this individual love you more or less they are incapable of naturally executing what love looks like shown through action they can only mimic it through you you are the host

EVERYTHING COST EVEN DECISIONS

The Bible is very direct about this:

believers are not called to let the values, desires, thinking, and standards of the world shape who they become. We are called to be transformed by God instead.

1. Don't let the world conform you to its way of thinking
Romans 12:2 is probably the clearest passage:
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind...” — Romans 12:2 (KJV)

The word “conformed” carries the idea of allowing yourself to be molded into an existing pattern.
In other words: Don't let the culture around you decide what is normal, desirable, valuable, or acceptable for you.

Instead, renew your mind through God's Word, so that you can recognize what God's will actually is.

2. You can live in the world without belonging to its system
Jesus prayed for His followers:
“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” — John 17:16
Jesus didn't tell His disciples to physically remove themselves from society. In fact, He sent them into the world.

The distinction is important:
You're in the world, but the world isn't supposed to get inside of you and become your standard.

3. Be careful what you love
1 John 2:15–16 says:
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.”

John then describes the things of the world as:

the lust of the flesh
the lust of the eyes
the pride of life

That's powerful because worldly influence doesn't always come through something obviously sinful. Sometimes it comes through what we constantly desire, consume, admire, compare ourselves to, and pursue.

4. Your influences matter
Paul says:
“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” — 1 Corinthians 15:33
“Communications” here means companionship, associations, or influences.

Who and what you
continually expose yourself to can affect you.
That includes more than people.

Today, it can include:

social media
entertainment
music
influencers
podcasts
cultural philosophies
pornography/sexualized content
materialism
constant comparison
the pursuit of status and appearance

You can consume something casually and eventually discover that it has changed what you think is normal.

5. Don't blindly adopt the world's wisdom
Paul says:
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” — 1 Corinthians 3:19
This doesn't mean everything the world says is wrong. It means the world's standards cannot be your ultimate authority.

For example, culture may say:

“Do whatever makes you happy.”

Scripture asks:
“Does this please God?”

Culture may say:
“Protect your image.”

Jesus teaches:
“Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)

Culture may say:
“Get even.”

Jesus says:
“Love your enemies.” (Matthew 5:44)

Culture may say:
“Your value comes from what you have.”

Jesus says:
“A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” — Luke 12:15

6. But there's an important balance
The Bible doesn't teach Christians to become completely disconnected from the world.

Jesus said:
“Ye are the light of the world.” — Matthew 5:14
Light has to be in the darkness to make a difference.

So the biblical question isn't:
“How do I avoid everything worldly?”

It's:
“How can I live in this world without allowing this world to become the source of my identity, values, desires, and direction?”

That's the distinction.
A simple biblical test

Before allowing something to influence you, ask:

1. Does this agree with Scripture?
2. What is this teaching me to desire?
3. Is this drawing me closer to God or making me more comfortable without Him?
4. Is this shaping my character into Christ's character?
5. Would I still choose this if I weren't comparing myself to everybody else?
And one verse ties the whole idea together beautifully:
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” — Colossians 3:2
The issue isn't merely what you are watching or listening to.
It's what's INFLUENCING your heart.

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