Influence That Lasts: Using What God's Given You to Change the World
Influence isn't about power or position - it's about presence, character, and faithful stewardship of what God's entrusted to you. Over the next seven days, discover how to maximise your influence at home, at work, and in your community, and learn to build a legacy that outlasts you by investing in what truly matters: people and the kingdom of God.
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The Influence You Already Have (And Don’t Know You’re Using)
Monday 26 January 2026
Read: Psalm 72:1-4, Ephesians 5:15-16, 2 Corinthians 2:14-15
You might think you’re not influential - but what if you’re already shaping lives every single day without realising it?
Most of us dismiss our own influence because we’re not running companies or leading nations. But the Bible reveals something surprising: influence isn’t about position or power - it’s about presence and choice.
Solomon understood that real influence starts with how we treat “the least of these”. Here are three invisible ways you’re already influencing people:
You influence through your reactions. When someone cuts you off in traffic or interrupts you mid-sentence, your response speaks volumes. Your calmness in chaos, your patience when provoked, your grace when wronged - these create ripples. Before you react to frustration today, pause for three seconds and pray: “Lord, help me respond like you would”.
You influence through what you notice. Real influence begins with seeing people others miss - the person at church who sits alone, the colleague who’s quieter than usual, the neighbour whose curtains stay closed. This week, pray each morning: “Lord, who needs to be noticed today?” Then act on what you see.
You influence through your integrity when no one’s watching. Your private choices shape your public influence. Do you keep your word when it costs you something? These hidden moments build your capacity to carry more.
You are more influential than you think. Choose one area to focus on this week. Your influence matters. Make it count.
Prayer: Lord, help me see every moment as an opportunity to reflect your love. Amen.
Why Praying for More Influence Isn’t Selfish (It’s Essential)
Tuesday 27 January 2026
Read: Psalm 72:1-14, Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:17
What if asking God for more influence is exactly what he wants you to do? It sounds wrong, doesn’t it? We’re taught to be humble, to serve quietly. But here’s the truth: God wants to increase your influence - not for your ego, but for his mission.
Solomon was already the richest and most powerful man alive. Yet he boldly prayed for even more influence. Why? “He will rescue the poor... help the oppressed... redeem them from violence” (Psalm 72:12-14). When your motive is ministry, asking for more influence isn’t pride - it’s partnership with God.
Jesus taught that God gives more to those who prove faithful with what they have. In Luke 19:17, the master says: “You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities”. Right now, you have influence in your home, workplace, and neighbourhood. Are you being faithful there?
Here’s the key: your influence exists to serve the powerless. Who in your life has no voice? A child being bullied? An elderly neighbour? A colleague facing injustice? Use your influence deliberately on behalf of someone powerless this week.
When you pray, “Lord, give me more influence”, you’re really praying, “Lord, let me be part of what you’re doing in the world”.
That’s a God-honouring prayer.
This week: ask boldly, serve faithfully, and let God multiply your influence for his glory.
The Two-Minute Habit That Will Transform Your Home
Wednesday 28 January 2026
Read: Psalm 72:3-7, Deuteronomy 6:6-7
What if the most powerful spiritual habit in your home takes less time than making a cup of tea?
Most of us think discipleship at home requires hour-long Bible studies or perfectly structured family devotions. That’s why we give up. But here’s the truth: transformation happens in tiny, consistent moments, not grand programmes.
Psalm 72:6 says, “May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass”. Small, steady showers - not flash floods - make things grow.
Try this: before dinner, before bed, or in the car, pause for two minutes. Ask three questions: “What was hard today? What was good? Where did you notice God?” That’s it. No sermon. Just genuine curiosity.
Deuteronomy 6:7 tells us to talk about God’s truth “when you sit at home and when you walk along the road”. These aren’t formal teaching moments - they’re everyday conversations.
Even more powerful? Speak one clear sentence of blessing over each person daily. Your words carry weight:
· “I’m proud of how you kept going today”.
· “I see how kind you were - that matters”.
· “God made you brave, and I watched you show that today”.
This isn’t flattery - it’s noticing. Words shape identity, and your voice matters more than you know.
Today’s step: Pick one daily moment this week. Ask those three questions or speak one blessing. Keep it short. Keep it real. Watch how God uses your faithfulness to transform your home.
How to Be the Calmest Person in the Room
Thursday 29 January 2026
Read: Psalm 72:5, Proverbs 15:1, James 1:19-20, Philippians 4:6-7
What if your calm could change every room you enter?
We live in an age of anxiety and constant reactivity. But Scripture offers something different - an influence that’s steady, not loud. Anchored in God, not swept away by chaos.
Pray before you enter. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything... Then you will experience God’s peace”. Before work, difficult conversations, or family gatherings - pause in your car. Thirty seconds. Name the situation. Ask for peace. That simple habit shifts everything.
Listen before you speak. James 1:19 reminds us: “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry”. The calm person doesn’t rush to fill silence. They listen first. Proverbs 15:1 adds, “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare”. Count to three. Breathe. That pause is where the Holy Spirit works.
Refuse to absorb the chaos. When gossip starts, don’t join in. When panic spreads, stay grounded. This isn’t passivity - it’s strength. Your peace steadies others.
Build a peace practice. Calm isn’t about temperament - it’s about trust. Five minutes each morning with God. One psalm. Prayer. Breath. Calm is something you receive, not fake.
Your calm will become a lighthouse in the storm. People will notice. And when they ask, point them to the One who gives peace that exceeds understanding.
Be the calm. Carry the peace. Change the room.
The Hidden Power of Doing Good No One Sees
Friday 30 January 2026
Read: Psalm 72:12-14, Matthew 6:1-4, Colossians 3:23-24
What if the most powerful thing you do this week is something no one ever finds out about?
We live in a world obsessed with recognition. Social media likes. Public applause. Visible success. But Jesus taught the opposite: “When you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3, NLT).
Here’s the truth: the things you do when no one’s watching shape the person you become when everyone is.
Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people”. God doesn’t measure success by applause. He measures it by obedience.
When you serve anonymously, something shifts inside you. You break free from the need for recognition. You start seeing people not as opportunities for praise, but as precious souls loved by God.
Psalm 72:12-14 describes serving “the oppressed, who have no one to defend them”. They can’t repay. They can’t applaud. Sometimes they don’t even know who helped. And that’s the point.
Matthew 6:4 promises, “Your Father, who sees everything, will reward you”. God honours hidden faithfulness.
Your challenge this week: Do one good deed anonymously. Buy groceries for a struggling neighbour. Pay for someone’s coffee. Send an encouraging card. No photo. No mention. Just service.
Let God alone see it. Trust that in the secret place, he’s building something in you that will last far longer than any public recognition ever could.
Do good. Stay hidden. Let God see.
Why Noticing People Is a Spiritual Gift
Saturday 31 January 2026
Read: Psalm 72:12-14, Luke 10:30-37
What if the most important skill in ministry isn’t preaching or teaching - but simply noticing? We often think spiritual gifts are dramatic, but there’s a quieter gift that changes lives daily: seeing people.
Psalm 72:12-13 says, “He will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy”. Before help comes compassion. Before compassion comes noticing. The Good Samaritan didn’t have a title - he just saw someone everyone else walked past.
Most people feel invisible. Your attention might be the miracle they’ve been praying for.
Here’s how to develop this gift:
Notice with your eyes. When you’re out today, look people in the eye. Smile. Nod. Your simple acknowledgement tells them they matter.
Ask deeper questions. James 1:19 says, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak”. Instead of “How are you?” try “What’s been on your mind lately?” Then really listen. Don’t fix, don’t interrupt - just be present.
Pray for awareness. Each morning, pray: “Lord, who needs to be noticed today?” Then stay alert. The person sitting alone. The neighbour who’s struggling. The colleague who’s quieter than usual. God will highlight people - respond with a text, a visit, an invitation.
Noticing isn’t small - it’s sacred. When you see someone others overlook, you’re reflecting God’s heart. This week, look people in the eye. Ask real questions. Be the bridge. Your attention might be the moment someone encounters the God who truly sees them.
From Influence to Legacy - What Will Outlast You?
Sunday 1 February 2026
Read: Psalm 72:17-19, 2 Timothy 2:2, Matthew 28:18-20
What if the measure of your life isn’t what you achieve, but what you pass on?
Psalm 72:17 says, “May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him”. Solomon’s prayer wasn’t about his reign - it was about what would last beyond him.
Your greatest legacy won’t be what you do - it will be who you disciple.
Paul understood this. In 2 Timothy 2:2, he told Timothy: “Teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others”. He invested deeply in a few who would then invest in others. That’s multiplication.
Buildings crumble. Programmes end. Platforms fade. But souls are eternal. Jesus didn’t build an organisation - he invested in twelve people who changed the world.
Your legacy is determined by who you are, not just what you do. Are you patient? Generous? Honest? Compassionate? Your character will influence people long after your words are forgotten.
This week: Identify one person to disciple. Start small - monthly coffee, a walk, a conversation. Ask: “What’s God teaching you? How can I help?” Pour into them what God’s poured into you.
Focus on one character trait you need to grow in. Re-evaluate your calendar to invest in what lasts. And in everything, point people to Jesus, not yourself.
The world needs faithful people who raise up others to carry the mission forward. Build something eternal. Your influence matters - but your legacy is what remains when you’re gone.
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Unless otherwise shown, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. All song extracts used by permission. CCL Licence No. 135015.