Influencers in Our World

by Jill Reynolds

Recently, I’ve been studying the lives of some of Christian history’s greatest reformers. Men such as John Wycliffe, Martin Luther, John Hus, and George Fox who through great obstacles and persecutions carved paths that opened doors to many of the liberating freedoms and truths we enjoy today in Christendom. Though varying in personality, temperament, and giftings, each one clearly made lifelong decisions of similar nature. These decisions enabled them to endure various hardships of public ridicule, painful rejection by family and friends, severe beatings, harsh imprisonments, intimidating confrontations with popes, kings, and queens, and in some cases the suffering of death. It is obvious upon review of these Fathers of the Faith that their individual comforts and desires paled in comparison to the joy of their all-consuming love of Christ and profound commitment to His Word.

As with those who came before our day, each one of us has been given the opportunity to be an influencer in our world. We were born to make a difference, whether in the life of one or, as with these renowned men, in the lives of multitudes. The decisions and commitments that are necessary are the same, regardless of the scope of our calling. As I reflect upon my own life and as you reflect upon yours, may a cry be found in the depths of our hearts to live worthy of the examples from these past generations; may we embrace as they no doubt embraced Hebrews 12:1-3:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Our greatest joy and fulfillment is found in losing ourselves in Him. To be one with Christ to such a degree that, “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).  Laying our comforts, desires, and even lives down for our deserving Lord and King is a process that takes place one day at a time. If this is a course you have already chosen, then be strengthened and encouraged today by those witnesses who are cheering you on. Or, if this is a new adventure you have now decided to pursue, know that in doing so you have just begun to live.

NOVEMBER PRAYERS AND DECREES OVER OURSELVES, THE BODY OF CHRIST
AND EXTREME PROPHETIC

TOTAL SURRENDER:

You keep us in perfect peace since our minds are set on You because we trust in You. – Isaiah 26:3

Lord, we choose to abide in You and give thanks that You abide in us, for we only bear fruit when we stay close to You. – John 15:4

We lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make us dwell in safety. – Psalm 4:8

As the deer pants for streams of water, so our soul pants for You, O God. – Psalm 42:1

We thank You, Lord, that as we hunger and thirst for Your righteousness, our souls are filled. – Matthew 5:6

The Living God satisfies our hunger and we are blessed. – Luke 6:21

Our Father in heaven, holy is Your name; let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. – Matthew 6:9-10

Our bodies are offered to You, O Lord, as living sacrifices, for this is holy and pleasing to You. We give them as our spiritual act of worship.  – Romans 12:1

Lord, we will love You with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength. – Mark 12:30

COMMITMENT TO HOLINESS:

Thank You, Lord, that Your hand is upon us to thoroughly purge our lives of any dross and to remove all our impurities. – Isaiah 1:25

As dearly loved children, we are imitators of God. We live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. – Ephesians 5:1-2

Lord, You discern our errors and forgive our hidden faults. Thank You that You keep us from willful sins so that they do not rule over us. Because of You, we are blameless and innocent of great transgression. – Psalm 19:12-13

We are blessed because we persevere in every trial. God makes us able to stand in every test so that we may receive the crown of life that He has promised to us because we love Him. – James 1:12

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, we are holy and dearly loved. We clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. – Colossians 3:12

And we know that the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purges our conscience from dead works that we may serve the Living God. – Hebrews 9:14

LOVE OF THE TRUTH:

Our God instructs us and teaches us in the way we should go. He gives counsel to us and watches over us. – Psalm 32:8

We give thanks to God that we are able to come to His mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob. There He teaches us His ways so that we may walk in His path. – Isaiah 2:3

We thank God that He fills us with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. He does this so that we may live a life worthy of Him and may please Him in every way. – Colossians 1:9-10

The Spirit of the Lord rests upon us – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord – and we delight in the fear of the Lord. – Isaiah 11:2-3

The Spirit of the Lord is upon us because He has anointed us to preach good news to the poor. He has sent us to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. – Luke 4:18-19