I once encountered a powerful piece of writing by Marsha Burns that really resonated with me. Even though it’s been many years, I still find myself reflecting on its impact today.
It said, Keep yourself from defilement. This may require pulling back from activities and relationships that are not beneficial to you. Stop and consider what and who influences you the most, and make sure the input is positive and not negative. Your relationship with Me, says the Lord, requires time and spiritual effort as you allow Me to be the greatest influence in your life.
The word influence means the following:
IN’FLUENCE, to flow in; to flow. Literally, a flowing in, into or on, and referring to substances spiritual or too subtle to be visible, like inspiration. In a general sense, influence denotes power whose operation is invisible and known only by its effects, or a power whose cause and operation are unseen. Moral power; power of truth operating on the mind, rational faculties or will, in persuading or dissuading, as the influence of motives, of arguments, or of prayer. To move by moral power; to act on and affect, as the mind or will, in persuading or dissuading; to induce. (Webster’s 1828 dictionary)
Think about that! Influence literally flows into a person—a subtle flow.
Although very subtle, it denotes power over a person—power that becomes visible and known by its actions. Influence literally moves a person to act.
While studying this word, I came across a scripture in the New Living Bible that I want to share with you.
This is how the LORD responds: “If you return to me, I will restore you, so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!” (Jer. 15:19)
Drinking alcohol influences people. We say they are under the influence, and that is the truth. Their actions are the result of the liquor and its influence. It is something that has flowed inside of them and caused actions on the outside of them. In our daily lives, we come across many influences. People influence us. Situations influence us.
My question is this; what is influencing you today? What are the visible actions of the influence you are under? What is flowing in you that is causing an action on the outside of you?
If people are yelling and angry, they have been influenced by someone or some situation. If someone is upset and crying, they have been influenced by something. If someone is walking in total peace amid chaos, they, too, have been influenced by something. What is your influence? What is your action, and what is moving you to that action?
Just a few days ago, I was making my bed, and the Lord said to me, “It is what is on the inside that defiles a man.”
I knew it was scriptural, but I didn’t understand where God was going with this.
Matthew 15:17-20 says, Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.
So, what is on the inside? Heart issues. These are the things that defile. Issues in our hearts that need to be healed or resolved. Those heart issues often begin with what or whom we allow to influence our lives.
I wonder if we realize that when someone does an evil act, it first begins in their heart. It primarily started with the influences that they had in their life.
They are simply acting on those influences. It could have been what they did with their time or perhaps the people they allowed into their lives. Whatever it was, their action directly resulted from the influences in their life.
I can promise you that if you hang around people who constantly sin or even lie and gossip, you will soon find yourself doing the same things. I have seen in my own life that if I hang around negative people for too long, negative thoughts will attempt to grab my attention. On the other hand, if I hang around positive people, and especially people who are strong in the Lord, I stay upbeat and positive.
Also, I have found that if I am having a bad day, if I call a friend who I know is strong in the Lord, she will often lift me up. But what I won’t do when I am struggling is call a friend who is negative. I carefully guard the intimate influences in my life.
Our daily influences are very important. We must allow and even invite God and His Word to be the ruling influence in our lives. If we do that, we will live in victory.
Today, let’s remember what Marsha Burns said. Keep yourself from defilement. This may require pulling back from activities and relationships that are not beneficial to you. Stop and consider what and who influences you the most, and make sure the input is positive and not negative. Your relationship with Me, says the Lord, requires time and spiritual effort as you allow Me to be the greatest influence in your life.
May this become our daily prayer. Let’s spend our time and our efforts on the One who should be the greatest influence in our life!
