The Gospel According to Influence: When the Vibe Starts Calling the Shots

Quick question—no overthinking, just vibes.

Have you ever caught yourself saying something and thought, “Wait… when did I start talking like that?”

Or laughing at something and immediately thinking, “Why did I laugh? That wasn’t even funny.”

Or agreeing with something and then later feeling that tiny nudge like, “Huh… that didn’t actually sit right with me.”

Yeah. Same.

Because influence doesn’t usually kick the door down and announce itself.

It just slides into your life, grabs a seat, and starts rearranging the furniture.

Let me ask you…If someone followed you around for a week—watched what you scroll, who you listen to, what you laugh at—

Would they say Jesus is shaping you?

Or YouTube?

Because influence doesn’t ask permission.It just shows up… and rapidly starts forming you.

Hey you welcome back to the POD! Hey, can I ask you something real quick? —when was the last time you changed your mind about something… not because you prayed about it, not because you studied it, but just because everyone else seemed cool with it?

Yea. That.

Today’s episode isn’t about your feelings, your emotions, or your INNER world. 

We’re not talking about what’s happening inside you. 

We’re talking about what’s shaping you from the outside in.

Because long before something becomes a feeling, it usually starts as influence.

A comment someone made.A joke everyone laughed at.A trend that slowly stopped feeling weird.A friend group vibe you didn’t want to disrupt.A YouTube creator you trust who “has good takes.”A story that kept getting repeated until it felt true.

None of it dramatic. 

None of it obvious.

Just… familiar.

That’s the thing about influence—it doesn’t yell. 

It whispers. 

And the more familiar it becomes, the less you question it.

Last week, we talked about feelings—and how dangerous it is to let emotions be the loudest voice in your life.

But this week, we are zooming out. 

Because your feelings are shaped by what you’re surrounded by. Period. 

Today, we’re talking about The Gospel According to Influence—very simply, the messages that shape what you believe, how you live, and who you’re becoming, without ever asking you to agree out loud.

This is about friends. Culture. Trends. Group energy. 

The unspoken rules of fitting in. 

The stuff that forms you before you even realize you’re being formed.

So yeah—get comfy.Because this one is sneaky.And honestly? It matters WAY more than you think.

FACT: No one wakes up and says, “Today I’m going to let culture shape my beliefs.” 

It doesn’t happen like that. 

Influence doesn’t send an invitation or a push notification—it just sneaks in. You hear something enough times, and suddenly it sounds like gospel truth. You see something normalized so many times that it stops feeling weird. And without meaning to… you stop checking in with God because everything already feels decided.

That, my friends, is influence.

Here’s the problem: the Holy Spirit speaks softly. He whispers. He nudges. He waits for space. And influence? It’s the relentless notification that drowns out His voice.

Psalm 94:12 says: “Blessed is the one You discipline, Lord, the one You teach from Your law; You give them rest from days of trouble…”

Notice that: God’s guidance is a teaching, a shaping, not a pushy loudspeaker. It comes as rest and clarity—something you actually notice when you slow down.Influence doesn’t give rest—it piles pressure. It tells you what’s urgent instead of what’s true.

Or check out 1 Corinthians 2:12–13: “We have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. We speak not in words taught by human wisdom but in those taught by the Spirit…”

Translation: you already have the Spirit inside you.He speaks truth that can’t be found in trends, TikToks, or group chats. But you won’t hear Him if you’re too busy repeating the world’s script.

And here’s the part we all feel: influence sneaks in slowly.You absorb before you pray.Agree before you discern.Blend in before you even check Scripture.

And suddenly—without meaning to—the loudest voices are the ones you trust the most.

Not because they’re wise.Not because they’re true. Just because they’re constant.

Psalm 119:105 hits differently here: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

But if you let your headphones, notifications, and endless scrolling fill every corner of your brain, that lamp can get covered up.Your path is still lit—it’s just harder to see.

Influence pulls toward approval. The Spirit pulls toward truth. And the pull is strongest when you’re tired, distracted, or overwhelmed.

So here’s your lens check: Whose voice shapes your decisions before you even notice?

Who do you trust when your feelings are loud and the world is whispering?And when your heart gets confused, do you pause to listen for the Spirit, or do you scroll first?

Jesus said in John 10:27: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

Your invitation isn’t to unplug completely.It’s to make space.To slow down.And to let the Spirit’s whispers rise above the noise.

If we don’t make space for the Spirit’s whispers to rise above the noise, we can end up in situations that pull harder than we feel able to resist. For me, that was college—especially in my sorority.

The hype? Totally real.

The energy? Infectious.

But the pull? Also real… and when your circle is 50 girls deep, influence isn’t just loud—it’s impossibly loud.

And that’s when I made choices I never thought I would.

Disclaimer: I am NOT proud of this moment. And I also want to say up front: I’ve never smoked marijuana before this. Ever. Not interested. Not curious. In fact, watching my older brother spiral down that path? Nope. Hard pass.

But let me set the scene—because it matters.

I’m a junior in college. My boyfriend of over a year randomly dumps me. My 21st birthday? Three days away. And just to keep things spicy, I’m one of three directors for a massive sorority musical that we were selected to compete in. 

Translation? I’m heartbroken, exhausted, emotionally leaking everywhere, and wide open. Like—doors unlocked, lights on, alarm system off.

This was not just a bad week. This was a spiritual setup.

Because when you’re tired, insecure, lonely, and craving comfort? That’s when the enemy doesn’t knock—he walks right in. Satan loves moments like this. He’s not dramatic about it either. He doesn’t show up in red horns. He shows up with relief, with escape, with “just this once.”

I was flinging the door wide open to susceptibility. Standing right in his path. Vulnerable. Shaky. Looking for anything to numb the ache.

And that’s the thing no one tells you: bad influence doesn’t usually feel bad at first. It feels like a break. A release. A way out.

But spiritually? I was standing in a moment where the enemy could whisper, “You deserve this. You’re hurting. Just go with it.”

And I listened.

Now here’s the context: It’s a Friday night. My sorority sisters are hyped. And apparently, we’re all going to smoke weed. And me? I initially don’t want to. Like, no way. This is not me. But here’s where influence sneaks in.

Influence doesn’t ask. Influence doesn’t knock. Influence just shows up with a spotlight and a crowd cheering, and suddenly: “I don’t want to be the goody two shoes. I don’t want to be left out. I don’t want to be side-eyed.”

And me? I cave. Yup. I go along. One of my pledge sisters’ older brothers invites us over. Slowly, we all participate. At first, I’m like, “Cool, nothing’s happening… weird, but fine.”

And then. WHOA. My world flips. But not the fun kind of flip. This is paranoia city. Why? Because my role as director is on the line. If an older sister catches me? My role? Gone. My credibility? Questioned. My confidence? Shattered. My 21st birthday? Definitely ruined if anyone knew.

So why am I telling you this slightly terrifying story of almost-being-judged-and-actually-scared? Because it’s a perfect lens for influence.

1. 1.You’re not alone. I’ve been there.

   
   

2. 2.It happens fast. Influence isn’t polite—it’s a gravity pull.

   
   

3. 3.You can choose better. You always have a choice.

The point is clear: influence is HARD and FAST. It rolls up like it owns the place—loud, confident, and impossible to ignore. One minute you’re scrolling, chilling, or just living your life, and the next? Your thoughts, your choices, even your sense of self are being tugged in directions you didn’t even RSVP for.

God doesn’t want you to hide from the world. He just wants you to run everything through His filter—so your vibe, your decisions, and your words are rooted in Him, not hype. Because when influence goes unchecked, it can trick you into building your life on someone else’s rules instead of His truth. That’s why it is SO crucial to be deeply anchored, roots sunk down deep in Christ, so that when the pull comes—and it will—you can stand!

OK, so now let’s make this hit for YOU! 

Picture this: you’re at lunch or in class, and everyone’s gossiping. Jokes, whispers, the whole vibe like it’s no big deal. And your chest? That little ping says, “Uh… this feels wrong.” But the room is loud, all eyes are on you, and honestly… staying quiet feels way easier. So you laugh. You nod. You go along.

By the time you notice, that tiny voice inside—the one God put there whispering, “Stand firm. Don’t follow the crowd”—is drowned out by the hype, the pressure, and the fear of standing out.

That’s influence in action. Sneaky, loud, pulling you even when it feels harmless. It doesn’t come with flashing lights or a warning label—it just works its way into your thoughts, your choices, and even your identity if you let it.

And this is where Jesus’ Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13 suddenly feels way too relevant! Do you remember the story? If not, let’s spill the tea. 

Jesus tells this story about a farmer scattering seeds. 

Some seeds fell on the path, some on rocky soil, some among thorns, and some on good soil.

Think of the seeds like the stuff you take in every day: trends, gossip, “everyone’s doing it” moments, TikToks, YouTube videos, even the “normal” stuff in your own home.

• The seeds on the path? They get snatched away—basically the advice, the gossip, the vibes you take in BUT you don’t really process.

  
  

• The seeds on rocky soil? They sprout fast, feel good for a hot minute, but when the storm hits—drama, pressure, tough choices—they wilt and wither. 

  
  

• The seeds among thorns? Those are the things you let in, but they get choked out by comparison, stress, and noise. Nothing grows. Ever. 

  
  

• And the seeds on good soil? That’s the gold. The stuff you let in after prayer, after God’s Word, and AFTER listening to His Spirit. That’s when the roots grow. The fruit grows and your identity anchors!  

  
  

The truth is, influence isn’t evil—it’s everywhere. Friends, culture, apps, trends, family expectations. The real question is: which seeds are actually rooting in your heart?

Rocky? Choked out? Or good soil—strong, anchored, and growing straight from Jesus? Because here’s the plot twist: when your roots go deep, the loudest voices—even the most tempting ones—don’t get the final say.

So, let’s try this!

For the next 24 hours, play detective with the voices in your head.

Every time you catch a thought like:

• “Everyone else is doing this.”

  
  

• “I don’t want to be weird.”

  
  

• “If I don’t go along, I’ll be left out.”

  
  

Ask: Whose voice is that… really?

Is it Jesus—gentle, steady, full of truth?Or is it pressure wearing a cute outfit?

Then read this out loud (yes, out loud): “My sheep listen to my voice.” (John 10:27)

Let that line reset the volume.

Want to take things to the next level? 

Pick one moment this week where you’d normally just go along—laugh at the joke, repost the thing, agree to the plan.

Instead of reacting, swap your response:

• Silence instead of agreement

• Thought instead of impulse

  
  

• Prayer instead of pressure

  
  

You don’t have to announce it. You don’t have to explain yourself. You’re just choosing which seed gets planted.

Let's pray! God, help me notice the influences around me. Give me discernment to hear Your voice above the noise, Your wisdom above the trends, and Your love above the pressure. Help me be the good soil where Your truth takes root, and let me shine in ways that honor You, even if the world doesn’t clap. Amen.

Sis, not every voice deserves a microphone in your life.

Some are just loud. Some are just popular. Some are just passing through.

Here’s the truth they don’t put in captions: You don’t need to keep up when you’re already rooted.

Culture is constantly changing the rules. Jesus never does.

So when the pressure hits, when the vibe feels off, when everyone else seems sure—stand still long enough to listen.

Not to the crowd.

Not to the trend.

But to the voice that knows you by name.

Choose the voice that stays when the noise moves on.

Because girls who are rooted don’t get easily pulled.

And girls who listen to Jesus? They don’t just survive influence—they outgrow it.