Motivation Monday - Humility, Obedience and Influencing Others
This week, I had the pleasure of engaging in a heartwarming conversation with a dear friend. She shared her recent experiences of interacting with some truly inspiring female leaders.
What struck me most was she initiated them simply on nudges from God to reach out in order to connect and champion them on their leadership journey.
This was a gentle reminder to me, that sometimes, all it takes is a simple act of reaching out to make a significant impact on someone's life.
Many times, we believe that we need a title or position to make a difference. We think that we must have authority to take action. However, for many of us, our mission is more profound. As children of God, we are called upon to act and speak on His behalf, wherever and whenever He guides us.
Our influence does not stem from
a corner office but from a place of
humility and obedience - a bended knee.
We move forward, guided by His gentle nudges.
Are you a woman who is waiting to be seen, validated, or given a title in order to feel credible as an ambassador of the Most High King? Are you waiting to have your name on a door, or part of a ministry, church or organization before you feel you can influence?
I have heard that an average person who does nothing more than live a normal life influences more than 17,000 people.
Jesus, at the simplest level of identification was seen as a Rabbi. But He was an outsider, going about doing His Father’s work, but with no confirmation of being who He said He was by the existing religious powers.
Jesus simply set about changing the world
one conversation and one relationship at a time.
And so can you.
Carly Fiorina, a former CEO of Hewlett-Packard and featured at the Global Leadership Summit, has both held and lost positions of power and says this:
So many of us have our eyes on serving those who are far removed from our immediate circle of influence. We spend so much time trying to get into those rooms and with those people where we have little or no influence. Sometimes God does call us to reach out and initiate new relationships. The yes in that instance would be out of obedience. But often we are seeking to have influence where God has not asked us to be.
Many of us have spheres of influence closer to home, and even right under our noses, that are filled with people who need what only we can bring. We may be someone’s only sibling, or niece, or daughter or mother or wife or friend and we must ask God if our influence should first and foremost dedicated to serving those in proximity.
But whether you are called to step out and influence near or far, there are three qualities you may find helpful.
1. Seek to serve.
I have a friend who unfailingly, after every conversation with me, asks how she can care for me. She is not manipulating our time together or wondering what she can gain from our friendship. She is seeking to serve me, and I know her care is genuine.
2. Listen first.
We are wired to naturally talk about ourselves. It takes a force of will to listen fully with our heart, not only our ears, in order to honour the person that God has placed in our path.
3. Speak their language.
Look for bridges of shared meaning that shows the other person that you care about their world, before you try and bring them into yours.
May your week be filled with unexpected opportunities to influence positively the life of those God puts in your path. You are sent out into the world as a daughter of God, and that means you will always be positioned for influence.
I believe in you! God bless.
Cathie