Influence Is Power

When writing and studying for my bible study Equipped and Empowered: Preparing Women For Spiritual Battle several years ago, I discovered that the first person to have the power of influence was the first woman, Eve. Currently I am studying for and teaching in my blogs and podcasts about the women of the Bible. I began this series looking at the creation of woman, recognizing that how God created the first woman still speaks to His divine design built into our DNA still today as women. So, there is much to learn about who God created us to be from our origination at creation. 

We cannot disregard the power of influence God instilled in women, especially with our husband. Power and influence go hand in hand because influence is power. Therefore, the person who has influence has power. As women, that would be me and you. 

My husband and I have owned a pharmacy for over twenty years now. I do not work at the pharmacy, but I do impact what happens at the pharmacy. Occasionally, it has been said by employees, “If you want something to happen, tell Pat.” Not because I personally get it done, but because my husband listens to what I have to say. That is God-given and God-ordained influence. Let’s turn our attention to Eve’s story.

In The Beginning God Created Eve

God created Eve in His own image instilling worth and value in the woman, and He formed her from the rib of a man. In last week’s podcast we discussed our worth as women and our divine purpose of being a life-giver. If you missed the podcast, Women, Our Original Divine Design, you will want to go back and listen to it.  

Once God completed man and woman’s creation, all was well and good, but only for a brief moment while reading the Scripture. In the next scene, the Bible tells about a conversation between the woman and the serpent, who is the Devil and Satan (see Revelation 12:9 and 20:2). The serpent also happens to be the most, crafty beast of the field. 

I am convinced that the serpent, in his crafty methodology, approached and interacted with the woman intentionally and purposefully. He knew to get to the man and the rest of humanity, he needed to go through the woman because God created her to be a powerful influencer. Using his deceptive and evil tactics, he zeroed his attention on the woman knowing Eve’s power to influence her husband, Adam.

Wrongly Used Influence

The serpent was right. Eve influenced Adam in a way that didn’t work out so good for anyone. Eve influenced her husband to go against what God had clearly communicated to Adam not to do. Remember that influence is power. Power used wrongly can be devastating, as it was with Eve and Adam. Eve’s influence brought about sin and death in our world and thousands of years later, all humanity is still damaged because of it. 

Let’s look at the outcome of her influence as a reminder of our God-ordained power within us. But, let us also remember that God intended our influence to be used for good. However, as we see in Eve’s story, the beneficial and positive trait of influence can be tainted and used destructively. 

One of my favorite verses regarding our influence as women is Proverbs 14:1.

The wise woman builds her house, 

but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

Proverbs 14:1

Think about the power God gave woman. A woman who uses her influence wisely builds up her own home. And equally impactful, a woman who uses her influence foolishly tears down her home with her own hands. What a contrasting image Proverbs 14:1 gives us of influence used wisely or foolishly. 

Rightly Used Influence

Another Bible passage that speaks to our influence as women and wives is 1 Peter 3:1. 

Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives. 

1 Peter 3:1

The way we live our lives before our husband impacts our husbands so much that a 

Christian wife can win her unbelieving husband over by how she lives. We are influential with our husbands. 

Several years ago, I read a secular article that still sticks with me today. The article was titled, “Why A Great Woman Is Behind Every Great Man.” The author spoke about the power and influence of a woman when relating to her husband. In the article, he highlighted several powerful men in the world who attributed their success to the support of their wives. These men fully recognized their wives as a pillar in their life that held them up and helped them be all that they had become. 

Dear Sister in Christ, we have been given a great gift that we should handle with care. We need to be careful not to abuse our gift of influence with our husbands. Our relationship with Christ should shape our communication and actions with our husbands. God created us to be life-givers who build up, not tear down. How we influence our husbands should reflect our relationship with Jesus. 

Throughout this blog, I focused my attention on our influence in our nearest and dearest relationships within our home. But, our influence reaches beyond that into our extended family, our work and businesses, our communities and churches, and even in our enjoyment of hobbies, relaxation, and vacations. 

Assessing Where You Are

Since influence is power, we all need to access where we are. So, here is a question for you to contemplate this week. What are you doing with your influence? Take a few moments to go through this practical exercise to help you make a right assessment in the different areas of your life. 

Here are 5 Assessment questions to answer: 

1. Who lives in your house? 

2. Who do you work with? 

3. Who do you see on a daily or weekly basis? 

4. Where do you shop? 

5. Where and who do you encounter in your free time?

Write down your answers. Then ask yourself these 3 questions based on your answers:

1. What am I doing to use my influence with them or in that place? 

2. Am I wise with my influence? 

3. When do I use my influence foolishly and what do I need to do to change that? 

Now take those answers to the Lord and ask Him to help you by anointing you with His presence, power, and influence. And ask Him to transform the areas that need transforming to represent and reflect Him to the world around you.