Who Is Your Influencer?

 "Now I know I can't lose...as long as you follow...I'm gonna win...I'm gonna beg, steal, or borrow...as long as you follow. Yes, I can live today...if you give me tomorrow....As long as you follow..." 

Fleetwood Mac, As Long As You Follow (lyrics)

I'm sure Fleetwood Mac knew nothing about what influencers would mean in today's world when they wrote and performed this beautiful song, but its soulful lyrics are ironic when applied to the strategy of a modern day influencer. Some will do just about anything to get you to subscribe to whatever they are shilling. They literally bank on us clicking on their links and buying whatever they are sponsoring that week. I find it clever that Jesus has been referred to as the "OG influencer." I'm sure all the so-called "popular influencers" would be shocked to hear this, but it's true. He is the first to have actual followers. As I sat and pondered this, I looked at my Bible in a whole new way, and thought of it as a book of Influencers and followers. An influencer is simply a leader of something, and a follower is a believer of something. Hebrews 13:7-9 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. 

So, who are we following and what are we believing in this world today? What are we allowing ourselves to believe and follow that is simply not true or even worthy of our time? I know there are a lot of strange teachings out there! Luke 6:39-40 He also told them this parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. Mixed in with all the good things I see on YouTube are some really toxic subjects being delivered in very enticing ways. It seems some want to diagnose other people with all kinds of things, and glorify hedonistic lifestyles. This is nothing new, but when there are so many young people in crisis looking for a quick fix, it's terrifying to think of the things they latch on to for strength and a sense of belonging. Sadly, I don't think it's restricted to just the young people anymore. Anyone can be influenced. This is why we need to know the Word of God and to be able to test what we hear against it. 1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 

We need to be careful that we are not following the wrong things. Some of those wrong things aren't just other people, but they can also be our own traps we set when we follow our feelings instead of the truth. Are our feelings valid? Yes, but they are only an indicator of what is happening. We cannot rely on our feelings or place our confidence on the opinions and judgments (perceived or real) of others, because others often respond with their own fickle feelings too. When we are able to give in to God's Truth and not our changeable feelings, we will be able to live securely and confidently in who we are, not who we may erroneously think or feel we may be. While we can be highly influenced by others, we can't overlook the influence of our own feelings on our attitudes and long-held judgments of ourselves. Psalm 139:24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. We can invite God into our hearts and minds and ask Him to lead us to a better way of life. 

What Jesus did while He walked with the people wasn't just influencing. He walked with the people as the actual embodiment of love while teaching how to love. He gained nothing–not a huge following, no accolades, no sponsorships, and certainly not a bunch of free products. He died on a simple cross for the sins of the people He loved–us. His influence lives today through the people who live and love by His example. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Who in our sphere of influence exemplifies the Spirit of God? When we set our own life standards by the fruit of the Spirit, we can count on God's peace, and not a constant need for the validations and approval of others. If we know people who are living a life reflective of the Lord, these are people we can look to as mentors. These are people who will influence and encourage us in our walk with the Lord. Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. 

The longer and deeper we ruminate on our issues and feelings, the more access the enemy has to us, and the deeper we can become stuck in a holding pattern of unrest. Psalm 105:4 Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Something I have had to tell myself is that I can feel uncertain, but I can still BE stable because I'm trusting the Lord for the outcome. Feelings are allowed to come and go, as we are human, but they do not always indicate truth, and they do not define who I am as a person.  When we apply God's truth to any situation, it washes away the filth of deception. We can allow God to be the influence over every aspect of our lives, whether it is a relationship issue, a work situation, a personal growth issue, health concern...anything. 

 The first step is to desire to live a life led by God and not one being influenced by our own self-defeating thoughts or the world-led solutions of others. Once we decide to let God be the main source of strength in our lives, we have to be willing to change old habits and do something different. This often means stepping out in faith and leaving comfort zones. "Many a great Christian was molded in character in the crucible of suffering, matured in loneliness, and prepared for greater usefulness in God's hands than if untouched by the storms of life." John F. Walvoord  Once we have desired change and are willing to change, we then need to be actively moved by the Word of God as we keep it at the forefront of our daily lives. Permanent changes happen when we decide we are tired of not getting a desired result and we do something different. Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 

I thought of something as I gained speed to enter the expressway the other day. People don't have to get over to let me on. It's nice when they do, and it's a great courtesy to me if I don't have to adjust my speed at all. Sometimes I hop on and I get behind a slow semi and I'm trying to get over to pass it, and the vehicle behind me must notice this, but can't give me the courtesy, so it hurries to pass me AND the semi, leaving me to have to slow down before I can get over. Yeah, I may have expressed a little displeasure at that frustrating moment. It's also a very enjoyable ride home when I seemingly have the expressway to myself and I don't have to be concerned about anyone else's actions. One day there was a median fire that had just begun, and I reasoned, "well, the road can't burn, so we're fine," and I kept going, knowing help was on the way. Navigating the road of life with people is much like this. We sometimes can depend on other people, but most of the time we need to be responsible for ourselves and our own feelings and actions. We can't worry about what other people are doing and thinking all the time. We can only be concerned about our own responses and reactions to them. No one else can move me but me. If I'm feeling a certain way, that is my feeling to figure out. If I'm in need of something, it is on me to express that. It is not for other people to notice and give me what I need. We are responsible and accountable for navigating our own roads and adjusting our own speeds, but we cannot expect others to adjust and navigate theirs to accommodate us. It's nice when they do and it's a great courtesy. When we are operating in the fruit of the Spirit, we don't need to others to give us what only we and God know we need. Grace is the balm that fills in the gap when someone gives what we don't expect, or we give ourselves room to enter the lane at our own speed. 

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 

Ephesians 5:12