Like many young girls, I loved playing with dolls. I enjoyed changing their clothes and creating pretend stories about their glamorous lifestyles, complete with a dream house and camper. I also had an interchangeable puzzle toy designed for creating runway-ready looks. You could style the model with different hairstyles, clothing, shoes, and accessories. Sometimes the result was beautifully coordinated; other times, creativity led to an unusual mix of patterns and colors that would never appear on a Paris runway.

These days, I often make fashion choices by scrolling through social media and following women who help curate styles that are fashionable, affordable, and can arrive at my front door within twenty-four hours. We call these women influencers—a term associated with women who have thousands of followers and a compelling ability to produce action and behavior, usually in the form of charging my credit card.

You may not consider yourself an influencer, but a Christian woman of influence is a woman who reflects the image of Christ. Scripture reminds us that we are image-bearers of God, created to communicate who He is. As John Piper once stated, “So I think being created in the image of God means that we image God. We reflect God. We live in a way, we think in a way, we feel in a way that calls attention to the brightness of the glory of God.”¹

The Apostle Paul also had strong words for the church at Colossae regarding what believers should take off and put on. Colossians 3 reads much like a tutorial—setting aside the former, earthly nature and clothing ourselves with more beautiful attributes such as compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Our reflection becomes less about looking inward and more about turning outward in a way that reflects godliness and holiness.

Do you want to be a woman of godly influence? Here are three areas you can intentionally develop in your life.

First, a godly woman of influence is anchored in God’s Word.

No spiritual discipline is as important as the intake of Scripture. When we hear, read, examine, study, meditate on, and memorize God’s Word, all other spiritual disciplines are strengthened. Paul reminds the Colossians in verse 16 to let the Word of Christ dwell richly among them. Nearly every translation uses the word “richly,” meaning generously or abundantly. I also appreciate Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase translation, which says the Word of Christ should “have the run of the house.”

I recently read two books written by women who had experienced similar stories of betrayal and hurt. The difference was striking: One author ran away from God’s Word, while the other ran toward it. The contrast revealed that a woman shaped by God’s Word exerts an influence marked by character and integrity—one that encourages others. By contrast, the author who constructed her own view of God apart from Scripture came across as bitter and wounded. If you want to be a woman of influence, draw near to God’s Word.

Second, a woman of influence exercises her spiritual gifts and skills with a grateful heart.

Colossians 3:17 reminds us that whatever we do, in word or deed, we should do it in the name of Christ, giving thanks to God the Father. I have known many godly women who lived this out beautifully. Some practiced hospitality. Some served faithfully behind the scenes. Others exercised gifts of encouragement, teaching, or generosity. Some did so publicly and with visible platforms, but more often, the women who most influenced my life served quietly and without recognition.

The common denominator was gratitude. These women pursued kingdom impact

rather than personal ambition. Their influence was relational, not positional.

What about you? Are you more concerned with making your name known or making the name of Jesus known? Striving for a large platform with the wrong motive is no different than a viral dress that promises everything and ends up in the return pile.

Finally, a woman of godly influence builds intentional relationships.

Early in ministry, a leader gently pointed out that I often entered conversations focused more on what I needed from someone than on truly knowing them. Since then, I remind myself to listen before speaking. Before sharing my to-do list or asking for help, I need to hear how someone is doing, understand their needs, and offer encouragement.

Building intentional relationships also reminds us to invest in people—not projects or possessions. It’s easy for me to put my head down and type away at my keyboard, but when I look up and see the people God has placed before me, I’m reminded that I’m investing in someone with an eternal soul.

I am deeply thankful for the women in my life who listened to me, prayed with me, and pointed me to the Lord. Their lives reflect what Paul described in Colossians 3:14 when he urged believers to put on love, which binds everything together in perfect unity.

So—do you want to be a woman of influence? Live each day with eternity in view. James 4:14 compares life to a mist—brief, fragile, and fleeting. When eternity becomes the lens through which we view our choices, our values begin to shift. Elizabeth Elliot wrote, “The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.”² With Christ as your focus and His Word as your compass, you can influence the next generation.

Notes:

1. John Piper, “What Does it Mean to be Made in God’s Image?” Desiring God.

2. Ellen Vaughn, Becoming Elizabeth Elliot, 84.

Author Bio:

Kelly D. King is the Women's Minister at Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City and an Assistant Professor of Christian Ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where she teaches the Ministry to Women courses. She is the author of Ministry to Women: The Essential Guide for Leading Women in the Local Church. You can connect with her at kellydking.org.

Additional Resources for Being in the Word:

The Bible Study Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Reading, Understanding, and Applying the Bible		Women of the Bible		A Year in the Bible | Volume 1		Draw Near to God
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