When I think of influencers, I think of social media influencers. But I want to talk about women influencers in the Bible. Have you ever thought about Deborah being an influencer? Have you ever thought about Esther, or even Mary Magdalene, or how about Rahab the harlot as an influencer?

I believe that certain friends we make can be those lifelong associations that can influence us for good and are also a gift from God. So, I want to talk to you about paying attention or even praying specifically, that God will give you particular friends that can influence your life for good.

Let’s talk about people in high places, low places, and on the go places. People in high places are those who are wealthy, or who have an important status, or maybe have a high position in their company or something like that.

A high place can be where God has positioned them, they were willing to accept that position and they’re flourishing in it. It could even simply be someone willing to obey God in whatever endeavor He has called them. Their obedience can represent a high place in the Lord.

A low place may be a lot of things. It may be just the total opposite of a high place. It may just be a place where you see people who refuse to listen to God, or refuse to accept what God has for them, or maybe they just don’t care about succeeding.Whether it’s spiritual, or on their job, they do the bare minimum or less.

But I want to talk to you about something else, those in on the go places.  What does it mean to be on the go? If you’re trying to do what God has called you to do, there are people that will help you do it, there are people that will hinder you from doing it, but then there are people who will say, “Get up and go, I want to encourage you. I’ll help you do whatever you need to do.” They encourage you in your calling for you to go where God has called you to go, or do what He’s called you to do. Maybe they support your ministry financially, or maybe they support you in prayer, but most of all they encourage you to go. Go in obedience to God.

Hannah

Let’s go and take a look at Hannah. Hannah was that woman who knew how to pray. Hannah was that woman that really believed when she would pray, God would answer her prayers. Hannah wasn’t moved by the circumstances, or the situation. Hannah wasn’t moved by the naysayers. When you go to a Hannah for prayer, Hannah prays!

Esther

Esther was that beautiful woman–beautiful on the inside and beautiful on the outside. No matter what came along, Esther was that one woman who was so bold and courageous.

You may be looking for somebody that will go along with your plan and see your plan from God as beautiful, somebody who will say, “Listen, you can do this, this is a beautiful idea from God,” and not be jealous, not be prideful, not be upset. I believe it’s important to find that someone who sees the beauty in you, who sees the beauty in your calling, and is courageous enough to help you get to where you are supposed to go.

Mary Magdalene

The next person I want you to see is Mary Magdalene. The Bible talks about her as having seven demons cast out of her.

But rather than thinking about the woman who had seven demons cast out of her, let’s go another step further and realize, while her beginning might have been rocky, her ending was magnificent! Who was there when Jesus was on the cross? Who was there after Jesus was raised from the dead? What did Mary Magdalene do with her life? Well, the Bible says she didn’t stay demon possessed. Jesus trusted her so much that she was part of his traveling ministry. And in Luke 8, she was referred to as one of three women of substance who were a part of Jesus’ life and ministry. She might have had a rocky start, but wow, what a magnificent ending!

Deborah

Deborah was a wife, a judge, and a prophetess. She was so strong and so accurate that when going into battle, the commander of the army of over 10,000 said, “I’m not going to battle unless you’re going to battle with me.” And in a sense, she said, “Okay, I’ll do it, but I want to demonstrate the power of God through a woman.” Wow, what a story.

Rahab

Let’s talk about Rahab, the harlot. Now, why didn’t I say Rahab, and just stop there? Because the Bible refers to her as Rahab the harlot. And even though her beginning wasn’t the most fabulous, let’s look at what happened. She saw a way she could help honor God. She saw a way she could rescue God’s people. She saw a way that she could do something for the kingdom of God. Talk about an ending! Not only did she help preserve the people of God, the Bible talks about her understanding God as her God. It even goes on to say her lineage became the lineage of Jesus.

Priscilla

In Acts 18 we see Priscilla and her husband as wise teachers. They were in a position to encourage and teach others based on what they had learned about the word of God. They were very knowledgeable about Jesus. Then we read about Apollos, the one who is perhaps a learned scholar or teacher. While Apollos is well respected, the Bible says that Priscilla became what I would call a mentor to Apollos, to guide and strengthen him in areas where she was very knowledgeable, but where he could use a little instruction.

He could have told her be quiet, or to give him the knowledge and not give her any credit. But I believe she was so anointed by God that her presence allowed him to benefit, allowed him to pass it on, and allowed us as readers to gain more understanding about the Bible. I want that kind of influence in my life, and I want to be able to influence others with that kind of godly presence in my life. How do you do it? I believe the best way is the Word of God.

So I want to encourage you, study the word of God and study about these women of influence in the Bible.  And I believe, that God can bring you an influencer, a friend, somebody to speak wonderful, godly things into your life. Then as God directs, you can pass it on to someone else.

I want to pray for you right now.

I pray for you from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet. I pray for you to be healed, delivered, whole, and set free. I pray for your soul, your mind, your will, and your emotions. I pray for you to know Jesus, and for you to be closer to Him than you have ever been before. He‘s not only your Savior that saves your soul, but also the Lord of your life. I pray for whatever it is that’s concerning you right now, for God to minister healing to you in every aspect of your life. In Jesus’ name, amen.