THE POWER OF INFLUENCE                            

                 By Dr.Handel Leslie                                                                                                                                                                         

He who influences the thought, his times influences the times that follows. E Hubbard

Influence is one of the most dynamic force in life. In every sphere influence is essential to the success of an individual. We live in a world where influence is the catalyst for greatness. Without influence an individual remains a nobody. Detached from it; we cannot achieve our dreams. When this dynamic force is absent, one remains on the low ebb of life and society in general. Influence is essential because it’s the trademark to our greater tomorrow.

Influence is defined as, the capacity or power or persons or group, to be a compelling force to produce effects on actions, behaviors, opinions or course of events.

By virtue of definition, influence as a compelling force ignites within individuals the energy necessary to rise from where they are, to become what they are intended to be in all spheres of human endeavors. God Himself is a God of influence, in every aspect of our lives when we are attuned to Him; He influences us in the direction of our dreams and highest ideals.

George Henry once remarked, “Let no one imagine that he has no influence. Whoever he may be, and wherever he may be placed, the person who thinks becomes a light and power” one of the greatest capacities, privilege and endowment given to us is the ability to think, by the power of our thoughts we can alter our world and shape our destiny. When we think we become.

Influence by the spirit.

Genesis 1:2 records one of the most fascinating account of divine creativity, in reference to the influence of the spirit in human affairs, it says,….”And the spirit of God moved upon waters”. The word ‘moved’ implies a shift. In other-words a divine activity took place causing a creative motion and process. In this creative motion the universe was influenced by divine action, causing chaos to become cosmos and darkness to become light. By the creative word God influenced creation and the whole universe.

When the power of God moves in your life, it creates the dynamics of creativity. When you think of the word ‘creativity’, it is more than creating something, creativity is a divine release. This is that which unleashes the endowments within your life, giving you the ability to maximize your gifts, talents and impact your world for good. The release of creativity comes in the form of light which is symbolic of revelation, exposure and ultimately influence.

Florence Scovel Shihn once said, ‘Intuition is a spiritual faculty and does not explain, put simply points the way.As one open himself to divine guidance, he becomes a channel for the flow of creativity, and eventually an influence in his sphere of operation.

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Jesus had a unique concept of the power of influence He said “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept” (Matt 5:14 MSG)   In essence all of us were designed to become an influence, and live out over hidden potential and creativities, whether in the field of politics, education, finance, music, literature or any other fields.

Samson when influenced by the spirit had a destiny to deliver his people from their enemies the Philistines. The enablement of the spirit causes him to do exploits. A connection to God will move you from the place of mediocrity to prominence, from being ordinary to doing the extraordinary, from insignificance to greatness.

Impact of influence

Positive influence is that which creates a life of distinction. This trait is that which lifts human consciousness to the plateau of increased growth and productivity. An awareness of one’s calling coupled with the courage to stand up and step forward in the right direction, amplifies the spirit of influence. No one is without influence if he recognizes the innate endowments within, he has the potential to become a person of change within any sphere he decides.

Greatness is not an event but a journey. This demands a mind set in a direction towards that which is meant for a meaningful life, and a desire to become a contributor of good to the world.To minimize the seed of influence, is to stagnate the process towards that which you were born to be and eventually become. You can never become what you have not imagined yourself becoming.

Often we subject our future to the negative influences of others only to become the victims of their negativity, thereby enslaving the good within. You have the right not only to create the life you decide, but the kind of world you always dreamt of. What influences you from within will become the influencing force of your outer world. The influence of love generates love. Kindness will eventually produce after its kind.

Charles H. Burr, made this profound statement in regards to kindness, “Simply give others a bit of yourself; a thoughtful act, a helpful idea, a word of appreciation, a lift over a rough spot, a sense of understanding, a timely suggestion. You take something out of your mind, garnished in kindness out of your heart, and put it into the other fellow’s mind and heart”.

Whatever you concentrate on becomes not only that which makes the present, but determines the kind of future you will enjoy or live to regret.

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Those who influenced our world

Again no one is without influence, no one is here without a purpose, all of us is here to trumpet a cause, to fulfill an assignment and to influence our world. The word influential is from the word influence and usually we look at people who are great in life and we say they are influential. We look at people maybe in the sphere of politics the Baraka Obama’s and we say they are influential. We look at people who have sacrificed like Nelson Mandela, 27 years in jail. Imagine being 27 years in jail for a crime you never committed. Imagine being 27 years in jail and never lost your vision of freedom for your people. Imagine being 27 years in jail and you would not look at the dark side of life you would look at the positive side of life. Yes in the truest sense of the word these are influential people. But when you consider this you do not have to spend 27 years in jail in order to bring out the influence that God has within you. Maybe you are in the schoolroom of life. Maybe you are as students going through a process. But understand this that within you is that mighty seed of influence. Within you is the ability to act to cause things to change. Within you is the ability to shape history.

Who knows what you will be tomorrow. Who knows what heights you will rise to. Who knows what God has within you already planned ahead of you. You can go for it.