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Circle of Influence"I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand," Psalm 40: 1-2 (NIV).
Has God changed your life? Has being a Christian made your life better?
God changed my destiny when he changed my dad. At the age of 18 my father gave his life to Jesus Christ. He felt a call to ministry and is still preaching today.
My friend Lily, the youngest of seven children was raised with an alcoholic father. Her oldest brother was the first in the family to accept the Lord and within nine months she saw her entire family come to know Jesus. God changed Lily's family and God changed her destiny when her entire family was influenced by one brother.
Has God made a change in your life? Can you look back in your life and say I remember when God reached down and saved me from the life of destruction I was living? If so, then I ask you what are you going to do with what God has done for you?
Many people attend their local church but a church does not exist only to maintain those believers who call it home; a church exist in order to equip us to reach those around us with the true message that Jesus saves. It is about being empowered by the Holy Spirit to reach those in our circle of influence with the Gospel. Reaching those whom God has placed on our path in life. Sharing our story of what God has done in our lives and what He will do for them.
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven," Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV).
Who has God placed within your reach of influence? God can use you to begin a change in their life.
My grandma was in the hospital bed dying of breast cancer in her 60's when she accepted Jesus as her Savior. It was her children who shared the message of hope with her and influenced her decision to believe.
My friend Araceli, moved out of her parents home, to attend the university. At the age of 19, it was a classmate of hers that first invited her to church. That was the day the change began in Araceli's life. Later, through her job, God used her to influence a young business man from Switzerland, who later became her husband.
So, as you look at your life, determine who God has placed within your reach of influence? God will use you to begin the change. Take a sheet of paper and begin to write those names. Begin to pray for God to use you to reach your entire circle of influence. We must not be guilty of hiding the light that is within us.
"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing," 2 Corinthians 4:3 (NKJV).
Selfish people live each day thinking only of themselves and what is best for them. In the same way, selfish Christians keep the greatest gift they have been given all to themselves.
But those of us who walk and live by the Spirit and are aware of the true meaning of each day we have been given, we will be ready when opportunities arise.
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty for the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound," Isaiah 61:1 (NKJV).
I encourage you to be active for the Kingdom! You have so much to offer. You are designed to be the missionary wherever God takes your feet every day. You are designed to reach your circle of influence.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven," Matthew 5:16 (NKJV).
I ask you today will you accept the challenge? Will you be busy building Gods' Kingdom? Will you be active and make every encounter you have with others count for the sake of Christ?
For me, my main influencers were first my parents, then my youth pastor and pastor, but there were others who influenced me throughout different stages of my life.
I now have a responsibility to influence my children for Christ. When my children leave our house, our level of influence will change, but as long as they are under our roof we have a responsibility to set the rules for that house. And we have chosen the rule for our house to be aligned with scripture:
"But as for me and my house we will serve the LORD," Joshua 24:15 (NKJV).
Who influenced you to give your life to Christ? Think about it. Who was that person? Do you know you were a part of their circle of influence? Now I ask you, who can you influence?
Look at that sheet of paper you have been writing on. I want you to begin praying regularly for your list of influence.
Let us recommit ourselves to reach the lost for Christ, to reach those who are in our circle of influence and to make every opportunity count!
Prayer:
Lord, thank you that you see value in my life. Thank you that you have given me opportunities and equipped me to influence those around me for your sake. God I ask you to give me wisdom and open my eyes with a greater discernment of the needs of those in my circle of influence. I thank you that you have changed my life and that I will never be the same. Use me as your vessel to begin the change in others. Today I pray for (call out your list of names). I thank you in advance for the day they will accept you as their Lord and Savior. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Copyright © 2008-2015 Melinda Henderson
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