Pretty much everything you do has an impact on someone or something. That means you are an influence. You may not think that your influence on the world is anything significant, but the fact is, you have a great influence on this world. You can’t live a single moment without being an influence. Even if you tried, you’d still be making an impact. What you do and who you are matter. The mere fact that you are living and breathing on this Earth, right now, at this very time, means you have a purpose. You were set here for a reason.
Your circumstances or status, your age or gender, your talents or abilities don’t prevent you from being an influence. Nothing can. You influence the people around you. You influence the environment. You influence the future of this country and the world. There is so much you impact.
The Kind of Influencer You Are
You can choose to be a good influence or a bad influence, but more importantly, you can approach life as being a Godly or ungodly influence. The Bible doesn’t ever describe our actions as neutral.
A Godly influence is someone who focuses on God’s teachings and intention for life and pursues a relationship with Him. Someone who is a Godly influence speaks love and wisdom into situations, revealing glimpses of God’s character throughout the day in every situation. A Godly influence brings peace, joy, love and light into dark circumstances.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, an ungodly influence is self-focused, not concerned about the benefit of others, but solely focused on their own gain and selfish ambition. An ungodly influence isn’t necessarily someone that’s evil, it’s simply someone who’s not interested in God’s plans or His ways. An ungodly influence is out of tune with the glory of God and unaware of His goodness, compassion and love. They do not understand the very nature of God. If we aren’t living according to God’s ways, then we’re living for ourselves, which ultimately will result in ungodly living.
Learning to be a Godly Influence
The Bible was written for people of influence. It’s a tool that we can utilize to better grasp and understand the type of influence we want to be and why. The Bible provides examples and lessons that reveal God’s intentions, hopes and desires for us as His influencers on the world. It gives us examples and stories that demonstrate what it looks like to be a Godly influence.
God is going to use people regardless of their influence. His plan doesn’t shift and change just because our influence on other people is ungodly. He still uses people who make a negative impact. Take Pharaoh from Exodus for example. God hardened his heart, but still used him. Or, Joseph’s brothers who sold him into slavery. God used that ungodly influence for His glory. Genesis 50:20 says, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”
Being a Godly influence isn’t easy. It requires going against the world’s common beliefs and understanding. It means pushing against Satan and his evil schemes. It means overcoming your own doubt and disbelief. It takes discipline, perseverance and strength. But, being a Godly influence has significant rewards. You will be blessed. You will be a blessing. You will experience God’s abundance in ways you never could have imagined.
We can’t talk about Godly influence without discussing Jesus. His influence changed the world. He laid down His life for us, so we could be with Him forever. He made the ultimate sacrifice. It’s Jesus’ influence that makes us want to be a godly influence to others. When we accept what He has done for us, we want to do the same for others. His love for us causes a longing within us to love others. His kindness, peace and joy creates a burden within our hearts to offer that same kindness, peace, joy, etc. The way we influence others is by laying down our lives for others, just as Jesus did. Our actions and decisions are a response to what Christ has already done.
You are very influential. God made you that way. Satan knows that and he is threatened by you! Stand up to the devil and be the Godly influence you were created to be.
