Maximizing Your Influence

December 7, 2025

Maximizing Your Influence

Influence has been described as the unit of leadership and the catalyst for change. Influence itself is neutral, but its impact can be either positive or negative depending on who exercises it and the purpose for which it is directed. Jesus puts it this way:

“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.” (Matthew 12:35, NLT).
We also mentioned previously that influence is the capacity to change people’s minds, beliefs, or actions. It is the ability to program outcomes. Every human being has this ability and exercises it through relationships, positions, values, and other advantages that draw others to them.

In this article, we will consider how to maximize this influence and make a positive impact on our world. The three strategies I plan to share are self-mastery, self-awareness, and intentional action.

Self-Mastery

Self-mastery is fundamentally about having control over your thoughts, emotions, and actions. It is the ability to choose the course of your life rather than being driven by emotions or the opinions of others. It includes the capacity to discern the truth and live by it.

We live in a world filled with influences that seek to shape the human mind—from marketing to movies, books, and social media. This makes self-mastery essential.
It is for this reason that the Holy Spirit empowers us with self-control (Galatians 5:22). If we cannot rule over our emotions and thoughts, we cannot maximize our influence in this world. Self-mastery becomes achievable when we submit ourselves to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:2).

To further emphasize this need, Scripture declares:

“We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.” (James 3:2, NIV)

James offers an even clearer picture of self-mastery in this instruction:

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” (James 1:19, NIV)

Why is self-mastery so important? Because it is the discipline that preserves your energy for what is good. A person without self-control is like a city without walls—vulnerable, wasteful, and unable to preserve anything worthwhile (Proverbs 25:28).

If your skills, ideas, energy, and emotions are to produce meaningful impact and positive influence, you must regulate how you apply yourself. Not everything deserves your attention. Not every place deserves your presence. Not every activity is worthy of your engagement.

Only things of eternal value should make a claim on your influence. Only what brings glory to the Lord and transforms society should engage your gifts. God gave you these advantages for a purpose and for a season. Do not waste them through a lack of self-control.

Samson lacked this trait, and it greatly shortened the longevity of his influence in Israel (Judges 14–16). Herod was another man who possessed positional influence but lacked self-control. He squandered his influence by hunting little boys in a desperate attempt to secure his throne (Matthew 2:1–18). Are you also wasting your influence because of a lack of self-control?

Maximizing Influence

This is the time to acknowledge this weakness if it exists in your life. Submit yourself to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. He can help you gain control over your desires, thoughts, and emotions. The Holy Spirit can give your life focus and direction so that your influence becomes visible and enduring in the world around you.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23, NIV)

We will explore self-awareness and intentionality next time. Stay connected!

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Maximizing Your Influence

Self-Mastery

Maximizing Influence

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