God also considered [Ahaziah] evil, related by both marriage and sin to the Ahab clan. After the death of his father, he attended the sin school of Ahab, and graduated with a degree in doom. He did what they taught him, went with Joram son of Ahab king of Israel in the war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth Gilead. 2 Chronicles 22:3-4 (MSG)

As I read today’s chapter I thought about my youngest daughter. She’s recently moved out on her own. She’s in a new city, living with girls she didn’t know, and going to a large city college with unfamiliar people. She is in the process of finding and choosing the people with whom she will live in community. As I sat and had breakfast with her the other day, I listened to her talk about the people she’s meeting and her choices regarding the people with whom she wants to surround herself.

The people with whom we surround ourselves have an incredible impact on the people we become. Ahaziah surrounded himself with people who had a tragically negative influence on him. The consequences reverberated throughout his family and the entire nation.

Today, I’m thankful for family, friends and associates who influence my life in healthy and positive ways. I’m grateful for the people around me who inspire me to increasingly become the man God wants me to be.