Are You Under the Influence?

When my oldest daughter was a baby we lived in Evansville, IN where my husband was transferred for his job. He worked all day and took classes three nights a week to finish his degree. I had about thirty minutes on those nights to give my husband dinner and have an adult conversation.
My daughter was never much of a fan of naps so I had to be pretty creative in entertaining her all day. She also was not much of a fan of the grocery store so I usually went late at night when my husband got home from class between 10:00 and 10:30 p.m.
One late night I had to go to the grocery store, I grabbed a Diet Pepsi to give me a little energy. I had one of those plastic cup holders people used to hang from the window in their cars and I dropped the Diet Pepsi in it. After I was about a mile from home I popped the top on the soda and it blew up all over me and my car.
Shortly after that, I heard sirens and saw flashing red lights behind me. I was wondering who the officer was after and then I realized it was me! I pulled my car over and started to get out. Apparently, that was not a good idea. The officer told me to stay in my car for now and wanted my license and registration. I asked him why he pulled me over. After he checked to see if I had any outstanding warrants, he told me to get out of the car and he asked me if I was “under the influence.” I asked him WHAT influence that might be. Then I realized I was swerving trying to wipe ice cold soda off of me and he thought I was drunk!
In one long breath, I tried to explain to him that my husband worked all day, had classes at night and we had a baby and I could only go to the grocery store late at night and I was tired so I got a Diet Pepsi and it blew up in my face and I was trying to wipe it off and I may have swerved and that was why he thought I might be drunk.
The officer decided that no one could make that stuff up and he let me go with a warning, “Don’t drink and drive!”
There are many influences in our lives that can affect the way we think and our actions. Sometimes it is difficult to weed out the worldly influences and listen only to God’s influence. God promises us in Ephesians 6:11, “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the devil.”
Scripture is the best weapon to use against any negative influence. It is easier to succumb to the negative influences, because the World offers so many, than it is to embrace the positive influences given to us from God.
We are told in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.”
That’s an influence I can be proud of!