Influence

Influence

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

WE WERE SITTING OUTSIDE, visiting late one summer day. Sharing what God had been teaching us throughout the past year. As we went around the circle and each woman shared, I could see bits of my own story mirrored in the struggles of their own.

As we were almost to the end, one woman began to share that God was teaching her that sometimes he moves us out of or away from a group of people that we love because he has another space he wants us to influence. She told us how much she’d miss our group in this new season, but how God had been using her in a space she never asked to go but felt called to be in. And then she asked us, “Are you open to being used where God asks you to go?”

And I immediately felt convicted by her words. How often do I enjoy the comfort of where I am, unwilling or not wanting to see how God may have another place for me to occupy? I like my people. I like what’s familiar to me. Sometimes a little too much. But my friend’s words challenged me to remember that sometimes our greatest influence is in a new place God may lead us to, not where we currently are.

Often when we think of influence, it includes a large group of people or someone who is well known. But each of us has a measure of influence, in our homes, places of work, where we volunteer or anywhere else we find ourselves in community with others. Do we see the opportunities that are before us and take advantage of them to influence others in a positive way or do we miss it, thinking we would have too small an impact to really make a difference? We are each called to shine our light before others, in effect, influencing them so that they will see our good works and know they are from God.

Lord, help us to take advantage of the opportunity we have to influence the people we come across today. Amen.

-Kendra

One Good Step: Write down five places God has you right now. Pray about how you can intentionally influence others in each of those spaces.