Influence or Influenced?
The people and voices around you are shaping you more than you think.
The book of Judges begins with a warning that still matters today.
After the children of Israel entered the promised land, they were supposed to remove the wicked influences that surrounded them. But tribe after tribe failed to fully do what the Lord had asked. They allowed the Canaanites to remain among them. At first, it may not have seemed like a big deal. Maybe they thought they were strong enough. Maybe they thought they could control the situation. Maybe they thought those influences would not really affect them.
But over time, those influences did affect them.
The scriptures say that Israel “forsook the Lord God” and followed the gods of the people around them. They forgot the Lord, lost spiritual strength, and eventually fell into bondage.
That pattern is not just ancient history. It is a warning for us.
The people we spend time with, the media we watch, the music we listen to, the accounts we follow, and the habits we allow into our lives all influence us. Some influences bring us closer to Christ. Others slowly pull us away.
That does not mean we should be afraid of the world or judge everyone around us. But it does mean we need to be honest about what is shaping our thoughts, desires, standards, and choices.
Elder Ulisses Soares taught:
“Fighting against temptation takes a lifetime of diligence and faithfulness. But please know that the Lord is ready to assist us.”
The hopeful part of Judges is that even when Israel turned away, the Lord was still willing to deliver them when they cried out to Him. Jesus Christ is still our Deliverer. If something has been pulling you away from Him, you can turn back. You can create distance from harmful influences. You can choose better friends, better habits, better thoughts, and better places to be.
You do not have to be strong enough to resist every temptation while staying close to it.
Sometimes the wisest thing you can do is move farther away from what weakens you and closer to the Savior who strengthens you.
Reflection
What is one influence in your life that is helping you come closer to Christ?
What is one influence that may be making it harder to follow Him?
Today’s Challenge
Choose one influence this week to strengthen or remove. Follow one account that lifts your faith, spend time with someone who helps you live better, or create distance from one habit, show, song, app, or environment that weakens your connection with God.
Closing Thought
You were meant to be a light, not just someone carried by the crowd. With Jesus Christ, you can become the influence instead of being controlled by the influence.
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