Shell Perris looks at your influence

Shell Perris

It's amazing what happens you know when you smile! I'm naturally quite a smiley person and I have started to notice something, which I believe, to be quite significant.

Believe it or not, I used to be very shy and unconfident. If I walked down the street I would walk with my head down making a conscious effort not to make eye contact with people. If I ever met anyone I knew I would get really embarrassed and try really hard to either make the conversation short and sweet or try to avoid being noticed at all. It's crazy I know, but that's how it was...strange but true, and very real for me.

When I became a Christian all that seemed to change. I became more confident and was able to walk around with my head up. Other people even noticed the difference! When I met people in the street I would look them in the eye and smile at them, whether I knew them or not. I got all kinds of responses...some people would look at me with a face full of confusion thinking, "I don't know her. Why's she smiling at me?" Some people would look at me with eyes that said, "What's she so happy about?" Some people would appear to be angry as if to say, "Who does she think she is smiling at me?" Some people would simply smile back. Whatever the outcome, the important thing is that it created a reaction...people were sub-consciously invited to respond in whatever way was appropriate for them at the time.

In some ways it's true that your smile makes others smile but I think a more accurate way of saying it is this - your smile makes others respond! Now lets replace the word 'smile' with some other things:

Your faith makes others respond
Your lifestyle makes others respond
Your attitude makes others respond
Your actions make others respond

Just think about that for a minute. We all have the ability to use things in our lives to influence other people, whether it's in a tiny way or a massive way, and challenge the way they think. Sure it's a risk and you're never quite sure how some people will react but I remember someone saying to me 'FAITH' is spelt R.I.S.K!

I have met some people who think that they are exempt from telling people about God because God hasn't called them to preach. That's a load of rubbish! I believe God has called all of us to tell people about God and be a good witness of our faith. Its just that he's called us to do it in different ways. No way is more important or more significant than the other...it's just different.

So I want to set you all a challenge!! Think about some of the ways that you can tell other people about God without using words and then (this bit is the best bit!)...start putting it into practice! For some of you this will be something you may be used to but for others of you it will be a real challenge and that's ok! Just ask God to help you.

You see we all come to a stage or stages in our lives when we have to make a decision. Am I going to live life to the max and make the most of every opportunity that comes my way, or am I going to let life pass me by and end up wishing I'd made more of it? Well here's your chance to answer that question for yourself. Are you going to keep quiet about your faith or are you going to take a risk and go for it? Are you going to keep all the invitations for yourself or are you going to give them out to everyone you see because ultimately you are inviting them to the biggest party ever...eternal life!