Be An Influencer
Do you have anyone in your life right now that you admire? I do. I am fortunate enough to have several women in my life who are ahead of me both in years and faith that I look up to and who are full of godly wisdom. Prayerfully, there are some younger ladies in my life who look up to me in that way. I love what Timothy says about this topic of discipleship:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, CSB).
Do you ever think about the people who helped shape you into who you are today? I spend a lot of time thinking about this and looking back on the women God has given me over the years. There are several, and they vary in age and in seasons of my life. One of my favorite things that I ever did was a Bible study with a small group of women from my old church. It was a study that paired younger women with older women, and once a week for about six weeks, we would meet and have dinner together. We would learn how to prepare a meal, then we would open the Word of God and study together. These women are lifelong friends of mine, and even if I don’t see them often now, they helped shape me into who I am today.
I think of women I’ve prayed with over the years, too. Have you ever been a part of a prayer group or had a prayer partner? There is nothing quite like that, my friend, and if I could encourage you in just one thing today, it would be to consider finding a prayer partner and begin to meet regularly. I had someone encourage me to do that; now, I am passing that along to you.
The women I have prayed with over the years helped teach me how to pray. When our sons were little and still in a brick-and-mortar school (we became homeschoolers eventually), there was a teacher at the elementary school who lost two of her sons in a tragic plane crash. A group of us met behind the school one day to pray for her family, and that became a weekly thing. We would be the ones to start a chapter of Moms in Prayer at that school, and for years we met every Monday morning and prayed over the students and faculty at our local schools.
It was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.
More recently, I think of a writing team that I am on at my church. There are five of us, and when we are able to all be in the same room, there is such a sweet bond of friendship and camaraderie between us. We are the type of friends that the writer of Proverbs talked about in the verse below.
“Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17, CSB).
Have you ever noticed that you start to take on the characteristics of the ones you spend time with? This can be both a good and bad thing, depending on who the person is, which is why I think it’s important to remember this verse from 1 Corinthians on this very topic:
“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals’” (1 Corinthians 15:33, CSB).
When we are around women who are full of good things like wisdom, grace, kindness and love, those are the things that rub off onto us. Recently I was around someone who has started talking like me—and though that sounds strange to me even as I write this, it’s a good reminder for me to be careful in my words. My words need to be life-giving, full of grace and seasoned with salt. I love this verse from Colossians about this:
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer another person” (Colossians 4:6, CSB).
Whether or not we realize it, people are observing us every minute of every day. I was recently in a meeting at church about how we can evangelize to people who are in our circle of influence, and the number one tool we have to use right now is social media. People look up to us on those platforms, so it’s another good reminder to be careful what we share. I’m reminding myself of this as I write! People in public watch us as well, especially as we react to those around us when we’re out and about. For instance, we should be mindful of how we treat others—even when the line is long, even when someone is rude to us, even when they got our order wrong.
In other words, our words need to point others to Jesus. People may not come to church much anymore, but they sure are watching us, and I pray that they see Jesus in me. I’ve always heard that the Jesus in me may be all of Jesus someone ever sees or experiences. I pray that I point to Him every day of my life. I pray that I inspire others to know Him more, and that I make His presence in my life attractive — not so that people see ME, but so that they see Jesus. I also pray that the Lord continually helps me with my countenance as I am around people in public, meaning that I am mindful about how my expression looks to others.
Here is one of my favorite passages on how we are to act today as representatives of the Lord Jesus:
“In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, o that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands so that God’s word will not be slandered” (Titus 2:3-5, CSB).
Don’t skim over the “why” of these verses above — “so that God’s word will not be dishonored” is how the NASB 1995 version reads.
I also love these examples:.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, CSB).
“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity and sound speech that cannot be condemned…” (Titus 2:7-8, ESV).
I pray these words encourage and inspire you today, friend.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Goodwin is a wife, and mom to four (almost) grown sons. The Lord has called her to serving in several different ministries within her church home, some of which are bible study and leading younger women, and helping in the leading of worship on Sundays. During the week you can find her writing on her blog, Overflowing With Thanksgiving and encouraging others through her favorite social media outlet: Instagram. Follow along with her and be encouraged at @jenlloydgoodwin.