Influence is one of the most powerful things in the world. As we know, there are both good and bad influences. We are all under the influence of something or someone. Whether you know it or not. The Oxford dictionary defines ‘influence’ as “the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something….”

In many countries, when a person is caught driving intoxicated, he/she is arrested and then charged with the criminal offence of DUI (Driving Under the Influence). DUI simply states that you’re not in control of yourself nor are you in control of the vehicle. The word we’re focusing on here is influence.

Following the definition above, to be under the influence of alcohol simply means it has an effect on your character or behaviour.

In the same way one can be under the influence of alcohol, one can also be under the influence of the Holy Spirit. When you’re under the influence of the Holy Spirit, you operate in supernatural knowledge and wisdom.

I recall a few years ago, I was reading my bible, and in the middle of my reading, someone in a group chat asked the group for some advice; I replied, giving my advice, and the person showed great appreciation for the advice I gave and commended the wisdom in it. To me, what I recommended was simple and plain, but to her, it was the wisest decision to make at the time. I put my phone down and continued reading my Bible, and right then, the Holy Spirit brought to my attention that it was His wisdom I operated in. I was under the influence of the Holy Spirit and I didn’t know it. There was nothing physically extraordinary about what had happened. It felt normal, but I wasn’t in control of it, despite being fully conscious of it.

People come under the influence of alcohol by consuming copious amounts of it. In the same way, people also come under the influence of the Holy Spirit by consuming (reading) the Word and speaking to Him (prayer). The more time you spend with God and in His Word, the more you’ll be influenced by Him. This is also true for the world & its values. The more time you spend on worldly things, the more you’ll be influenced by them.

We are influenced by what we listen to, what we watch, and the people we spend time with. Under whose influence would you rather be? God or the World? 1 John 5:19 (NLT) tells us that “…the world around us is under the influence of the evil one”. We must be careful that we are not conforming to the world around us (Romans 12:2), and coming under the influence of the evil one.

When you’re under the influence of the Holy Spirit, you make the right decisions; you come up with innovative ideas. When you’re under the influence of the world, you just do what everyone else is doing; and you’re pulled even farther away from what God created you to do.

Choose to focus on God. Spend time in His Word, and you’ll live a prosperous life under the influence of true wisdom.