Under the Influence

 

Charles Stanley said, "If we are to have a godly influence, we must be committed to our convictions." The question we must ask ourselves is, what are those convictions? 

 I recently read an article about whether or not certain things were okay or not for Christians to do. The answers were unwavering, in that all of them referred to first being committed to faith, prayer, and obedience as it relates to our personal relationship with God. James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. What we decide to do has little or nothing to do with whether or not it's okay for our neighbor. We should only be concerned about whether or not it lines up with our desire to follow and please God. And if it doesn't, then we need to avoid it. No one needs to understand it or accept it except for you and God. When we apply our faith to our decisions instead of societal pressures or any other element, it actually clears the muddy water significantly if not completely. Joshua 24:15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

If our desire is to be a godly influence with our words, thoughts, deeds, and actions, we must be committed to seeking His guidance, His wisdom, and His direction. Just as a good influence will affect everyone around us, a bad influence or sin we commit can affect more people than just ourselves. Let me just say that I didn't always know I was to seek Godly wisdom before making certain decisions, and I thought I had to figure everything out myself. I wasn't close to God, nor did I understand His very real connection in my life. When I began to see and cooperate with how He is transforming me with the Holy Spirit, things began to make a lot more sense. Ephesians 5:1-2 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

There are situations now that I can face with peace that would once have sent me into a spiral, only because I can see them spiritually instead of from a self-propelled world view. With God, my perspective has shifted into His perspective, and what He may be planning to do, and not "oh no! what am I going to do??" Am I always aligned and fully trusting in the Lord? Not always, but as I grow in my faith, I can feel when I need to get deeper into the Word of God so more healing and trusting can take over. And that is key. To be in the Word is to learn the attributes and the character of God. To see and know the words of Jesus is to better understand who God is. The more I learn, the more I want to learn, and this is how we become closer to our Father. This is what helps us remain committed to our convictions. It's also how we find peace and understanding. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. 

I could write a whole book on all the things I did (and still do) wrong, especially after I often regret not knowing then what I know now. But I'm thankful that instead I asked God for forgiveness and He is showing me how to do things His way instead of mine. Praise God for the grace that is new each day. I'm thankful that God doesn't give up on us, hears our cries, and is so patient with us as we grow into His likeness. I could also write a whole giant book on the ways God has changed me, blessed me, forgiven me, and shown me His love, and that's the book we can all write if we are in Him. 

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

1 Corinthians 1:27-31