Day 26
Be a Godly Influence – Manoah’s Wife
by Ann White
Are you a positive influence in someone’s life? In today’s devotional, we take a look at the life of Manoah’s wife – Samson’s mother – and how she was able to encourage and inspire her husband with her faith.
“As the flames from the altar shot up toward the sky, the angel of the Lord ascended in the fire. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell with their faces to the ground. The angel did not appear again to Manoah and his wife. Manoah finally realized it was the angel of the Lord, and he said to his wife, ‘We will certainly die, for we have seen God!’
But his wife said, ‘If the Lord were going to kill us, he wouldn’t have accepted our burnt offering and grain offering. He wouldn’t have appeared to us and told us this wonderful thing and done these miracles.’ When her son was born, she named him Samson. And the Lord blessed him as he grew up.” (Judges 13:20–24).
Pray: Lord, help me develop a deeper desire for you as I encounter your Word.
Observe: You don’t have to speak to large audiences, write a book, own a thriving business, or have a big social media following to have influence. More often than not, influence happens around our everyday, ordinary events of life––around the dinner table, in a living room, at a coffee shop, or during a small group discussion. In fact, whether we realize it or not, we influence family members, neighbors, co-workers, and friends all the time by our words, actions, and choices.
God doesn’t give us our insights, gifts, and talents just for our own personal gain. He is much more concerned with how we use these qualities to serve him and bless others (Colossians 3:23; 1 Peter 4:10).
In the book of Judges, chapter 13, Samson’s father, Manoah, was terrified that God was going to kill him and his wife. But Manoah’s courageous wife gently encouraged her husband with her knowledge of God and unwavering faith.
Courageously influence others in godly ways by eliminating the following obstacles:
- Don’t allow your past to discourage you from being a positive influence.
- Don’t allow your weaknesses to distract you from being a faithful encourager.
- Don’t allow the opinions of others to keep you from being an inspiration.
- Don’t allow fear to stop you from sharing your faith and leading others to Christ.
Interpret: When other people misunderstand God, his Word, and his ways, God wants us to courageously express our faith and gently lead them to the truth.
Apply: Who do you influence? Evaluate the ways in which you influence others and determine if it’s in alignment with God and his Word.
Pray: Father, you give me everything I need to faithfully lead others. Prepare my heart and mind to be a godly influence and give me unshakable courage to lead others to you.