Influence

Influence. What is it?  Webster says influence is the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways (sway). Recently at a ladies' meeting we each talked about something that stood out about our childhood. It was a way to get to know each other in a different way, but what struck me was that almost half of those stories were about someone important who influenced them and helped make them who they are today. Think about that. Why do you do some of the things you do? Have you ever done something and then thought, “That’s exactly what my mom used to do/say!”? Sometimes that’s a good thing, sometimes it’s not. But often we do things because someone in our past influenced us to a degree.

Who has influence? Actually, we ALL do! In today’s day of social media, probably the first thing that comes to mind when I hear the term influencer is an online personality who can affect how people think, purchase, and believe. Companies even hire them to influence people to buy their product or service. The influence of a social media influencer can be so tenuous though. Here today, gone tomorrow. It doesn’t even have to be based on fact. It makes me think of Ephesians 4:14 which says to not be like children tossed to and fro by differing winds of doctrine. The latter part of that verse in the NLT says “...We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.” Wow! Does that sound like the days we are living in or what?! We have to be so careful what we hear and from whom we hear it. We have to discern what seeds get planted in the garden of our heart and mind. Every now and then it’s good to stop and ask, why am I doing this? Is it going to take me where I want to go?

Influence is one of the main ways the enemy works. He uses the things and the people around us to influence us to think like he thinks and act like he acts. But I want to think like God thinks and act like God acts. I want His Word to influence me more than any other person, place, or thing. It takes a conscious decision to choose what will influence you. Will you let your past experiences, failures, and pains tell you that is all you will ever have or ever be? Or will you let God’s Word tell you that you are His garden, His masterpiece that He considers precious and beautiful? Will you let the world tell you that you are too fat, too skinny, too ugly, too clumsy, too whatever…or will you let God show you that you are so precious to Him that He sent His one and only Son Whom He loves beyond measure to rescue you? 

Friend, be aware today of who and what are influencing you. Decide today to let only the godly voices tell you who you are. Don’t let fear, doubt, and defeat dictate your future. Put them behind you, put the Word in front of your eyes and in your heart and you will have wonderful adventures with Him and you will be blessed! Be aware, also, of how you are influencing others. You might be surprised to know that smiling at someone, holding the door open for them, or just listening can influence them is such a positive way that it can completely turn their day around. It can! Use your influence and you go, girl!