Amazing to me is that we actually have people who make a living by being an “influencer.”  An influencer can persuade other people, for example their followers on social media, to do, buy, or use the same things they do. They get paid or are given free products in exchange for doing this. They work nonstop trying to get more followers and to get well known, and they are crushed when they lose followers on social media. Influencing is a big deal.

Though we might not be affected by social media influencers, we all have people who influence us. Over the years, I’ve had many influencers in my life, but not the social media kind. I am talking about the kind who have taken an active role in my healing process and my spiritual growth process. I am so grateful for those who have influenced my life, but do you know who my greatest influencer is? ME! I am my greatest influencer because no one talks to me about me more than me. Read that again: no one talks to me about me more than me.

Though mostly in my head, I have carried on conversations with me for decades. Truth be told, we have conversation with ourselves from the moment we arise in the morning until we go back to bed at night.

Within seconds of getting up today, I started rehearsing what was going to happen at my cardiologist visit. Would I weigh too much? How about my blood pressure? Would he be pleased with my EKG?

Other times, my mind, for unknown reasons, will talk to me about the environment in which I grew up – how poor we were, how unaccepted we were by so many, how mistreated we were. A regular conversation is the one where I discuss with me how I still cannot believe that our son Bryan died. I have had way too many conversations about the mistakes I made as a wife, parent, and pastor’s wife.

The point is that we are constantly carrying on conversations with ourselves, and those conversations are highly influential in what we say, what we do, and what we decide.

The most important conversation I have with myself is the conversation concerning what I believe about God.

What do you regularly tell yourself about God and your circumstances? Do you tell yourself that God is nowhere in the vicinity? Do you speak doubt and defeat to yourself?  “Well, I’ll never get out of this mess.” “I can never get ahead.” “There is no hope for me in this situation.”  Or do you remind yourself that God is with you and speak words of encouragement, faith, and trust to yourself?

In the book of First Samuel, David found himself in a horrible, heart-rending, sorrowful situation. His city had been burned, and his family was taken captive. David became an influencer to himself.

^“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” – 1 Samuel 30:6.

How wholesome, faith-driven, and Christ-centered is the conversation that you have with yourself every day? Do you remind yourself, “I am a child of God, and He is a good, good father!” Do you tell yourself to run to God in moments when you want to run from him?

Thank God for friends, pastors, teachers, loved ones, and all those who influence us in good ways, but no one (say it out loud, NO ONE) is more influential in your life than you are, because no one talks to you more than you do.

Give yourself wise counsel as a child of God. Write down and even memorize some faith-filled, encouraging scriptures and be an influencer when life comes at you fast.

I am my greatest influencer! Here are some of the conversations I have with myself.

“I am being strengthened with all power according to His might. I have great endurance and patience (Colossians 1:11 NIV). God loads me daily with benefits. He is my salvation (Psalm 68:19).”

“I will not fear for You are with me; I will not be dismayed, for You are my God. You will strengthen me and help me, You will uphold me with Your righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10.) Every word of God is pure; You are my shield because I put my trust in You. (Proverbs 30:5.)”

I am confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in me will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). God works in me both to will and to do His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).

“The Holy Spirit is teaching me all things and bringing all things to my remembrance. (John 14:26); Today I will have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16) God will instruct me and teach me in the way that I should go. He is now guiding me with His eye, and I have understanding. (Psalms 32:8,9)”