This post is part of the Five Minute Friday link-up . A weekly one-word prompt and five minutes to write what’s on your mind and heart, unedited (hmmm…). The prompt this week is INFLUENCE. Here goes –

2 Timothy 1:7-8a For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. ⁸So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.

So, I looked up influence and found the list of synonyms includes power. That immediately brought my go to verse to mind, 2 Timothy 1:7. I’ve read the passage many times but today, as God does, the word was made fresh. Because of this week’s prompt I noticed the following verse in a whole new way. We have the power of the most high God in us, why would we be afraid to tell others about Him?

Paul was influencing Timothy to be bold! We can’t allow the world to something else like polite, quiet, or wishy-washy when it comes to using our own power to tell others about our Lord.

Look at the other synonyms on that list: control, sway, hold, authority, ascendancy, mastery, domination, supremacy, leadership, guidance, direction. WOW! No pressure (oh yah, that’s on the list too).

Influence, it can be a burden because when used improperly could result in the opposite of intentions. A burden because we feel obligated to use it. A burden because we fear our own tendency toward pride.

Now, we bible readers know better. Do not fear appears many times on those pages for a reason. The divinely inspired authors remind us – YOU do not have a spirit of fear (that isn’t from God, so don’t let the enemy gain any ground there) but be bold in the power you’ve been given! It’s already YOURS.

That’s it for this week, now, go forth and influence.