Influence. You've got it. How are you using it?

What an interesting time to be alive. Seems like we're surrounded by craziness everywhere we look. Everyone has a voice nowadays due to social media. You have influence whether you realize it or not. Some of us have just a few we reach, or a particular niche. Others of us have the ability to reach masses. No matter which dynamic it is, your voice is important. So, how are you choosing to use it? Many of us have areas that we are extremely passionate about and whether we realize it or not, our influence is not being effective because we're using it wrong. How it that possible? Pressure. No matter how right, true, or noble our cause is, if we have to pressure people to influence them, we're doing it wrong. For example, I'm a "born again" believer who loves God with everything in me, but I absolutely detest "religion." I live the way I do from love and if I put those same expectations on others who aren't "in love" yet, it's just a matter of pressure and rules. It doesn't work. Just a few days ago there was a big uproar about the Super Bowl halftime show. There was a tremendous amount of pressure from both sides. The liberals want to use every platform to voice their opinion while the conservatives want to boycott anything they don't agree with. I want to decide for myself. I was in a group setting where we had the game on, but chose to turn it off during the halftime show. Come to find out, there was no reason for concern. Besides God, I have a love and passion for family and patriotism. I want to stir that in others. Putting pressure on people and forcing them to do things just uses the same tactics as the enemy. Even if we're putting pressure on people to "serve God," the devil loves it cuz he knows it's not productive. If you truly have a love for God, and country, and family, then just live out loud. Don't get in a hurry. Build relationships. Don't pressure people. Be contagious. That's my desire. When you truly love something you'll do anything to lay your life down for it. No pressure needed.