Do you look at yourself as a woman of influence? The definition of influence is: A power affecting a person, thing or course of events. A power to sway or affect.
Do you believe that you have a power within to affect another person, to change the course of events or to sway someone else?
As we look at the history of America we see great women who had the Power of Influence.
Clara Barton had a devotion to victims of war and natural disasters. She pleaded with the government for over a year to allow her to bring medical supplies to the battle fields, something no one had ever done before. She finally received permission and she became the nurse in some of the war’s bloodiest battles. You would know her best as being the woman who started the Red Cross. She also became the first woman to head up a US Government Bureau, the Missing Soldiers’ Office which located 22,000 missing soldiers between 1865 and 1868.
Harriet Tubman was involved with the Underground Railroad to free slaves. She knew the underground tunnels better than anyone else. She helped over 300 slaves escape without herself or anyone else getting caught. In 1860 she began speaking out against slavery and the redefinition of women’s rights. In 1861, when the civil war began, she served as a nurse, spy and a scout for the union forces.
Eleanor Roosevelt gave a voice to millions around the world for the minorities, women, the poor and the disadvantaged. She served as a chairman of the UN’s Commission on Human Rights and played a leading role in drafting and adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1961 she became the chair of the Commission on the Status of Women.
Jeannette Rankin was the first woman to have a seat in the US House of Representatives. Because of her work, three years later women were given the right to vote.
Maya Ying Lin designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC which many have gone to visit and mourn those lost in the war.
What about you? Are you willing to allow God to use you to influence the lives around you, your community, your town, your municipality, your state and beyond?
Let's take a look at women in the Bible. Deborah led the Israelites in an unlikely battle against the Canaanite forces and won. God used Queen Esther to stop the decree of Haman to kill all the Jews. Abigail interceded on behalf of her cruel husband and brought King David and his men food in order to spare the lives of others.
Each and every one of these ladies were a woman of influence.
If you are thinking to yourself "I can't influence anyone." That is a lie from our enemy. No matter how old you are, you influence someone. The people you work with, go to school, family, friends, play sports, people in church groups, people at the gym, your family, your small groups and the list goes on and on. You may not realize it, but there are hundreds of people at your finger tips that you influence.
How are you going to influence them?
As women, we can be very emotional. However, we can't run on these emotions or feelings. If we do, the influence we have on others could be detrimental. I have seen time and time again women influence others or even themselves when they are running on their emotions. The outcome - Painful. I have asked God so many times why He created us with these emotions and the answer is always the same "So you can love others the way I do." God gave us these emotions so we could love others the way He does, not so we can influence them in a negative or hurtful manner.
I know the Bible clearly teaches us that our tongue can bring life or death. As I think about yesterday or last week or even last month, I wonder how many times my tongue brought life or death to someone. What about my attitude? Did my attitude bring joy, peace, positive thinking, Godly character or did my attitude bring pain, shame, guilt or negativity to someone else?
As women of influence we must be careful that our influence is Godly and not hurtful. When we have a horrible morning and we get in the car to go to work, we must allow God to change us. We must drop everything and lay it all at the feet of Jesus so when we walk in that office door (school, grocery store, bible study group etc.) we have allowed God to change our behavior and our attitude. Why? Because we do not want bring anyone else down. Under no circumstances do we want the negative influence to pour out on someone else. When we walk into a room, we want others to see Jesus in our lives and we want to be able to influence others into greatness.
I love the Proverbs 31 lady! Years ago, when I was teaching a Bible Study on this precious woman, one of the ladies in the group raised her hand and proclaimed loud and clear "This woman is not REAL." She was right. This woman was not a real woman but her life was a reflection of God. She is a type of woman I want to be.
As her story begins, we instantaneously see what makes this woman a Godly influence. She is a woman of noble character and because of this, she is worth more than rubies. The scripture tells us exactly how her family sees her. Her husband has full confidence in her, her children arise and call her blessed and her husband sings her praises.
It goes on to tell us that she takes care of her home by providing food for her family, making clothes for them, coverings for the beds, and watches over the affairs of her household. Does this mean she didn't work outside the home or minister to others? No! It tells us she was a realtor (considers a field and buys it), a farmer (she plants a vineyard), a seamstress, she fed the poor etc. However, her top priority was always her family.
Was she drop dead gorgeous with a killer figure? Go back to the scripture.
It tells us her arms were strong for the tasks! In order for her to carry out her duties, she needed arms that were strong! Where does the scriptures tell us her beauty came from? Her beauty came from her fear for the Lord. It tells us she is clothed in strength and dignity. The Bible also tells us she loved to laugh. She not a boring woman who is serious all the time. She loved to laugh and enjoy life.
The key to this woman is Proverbs 31:26: "She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”
This lady is a woman of influence. Why? Because she speaks with wisdom and has faithful instruction on her tongue. She speaks of wisdom not anger. She speaks with wisdom not emotions. She is faithful and what comes out of her mouth is positive and not negative. It is not gossip but faithful instruction. It is not to hurt someone but to build them up.
I know this woman is not real but she is a woman that we can strive to be. We might not be able to be just like her but we can strive to hold onto the things that were important to her. We can strive to have noble character, to speak with wisdom and have faithful instruction.
I challenge you today to be a Woman of Godly Influence from this day forward. I challenge you today to speak with wisdom and have faithful instruction on your tongue. I challenge you today to bring life to others!
