Faith and Influence: God Spoke to My Heart about Her

Do you believe God still speaks to us today?

I do. And one experience from early in my marriage made me a believer.

Jane and I, like many young couples, hit a season of struggle. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t seem to break through.

One morning, driving to work, I prayed: “God, all I want is her heart.”

And in the quiet of that moment, I sensed a reply deep within: “Her heart is Mine, and you never asked Me for it.”

Then God brought something to mind that I’d never considered. When I asked Jane to marry me, I hadn’t asked her father’s permission. It wasn’t intentional—I simply didn’t know that tradition. But suddenly I realized: asking her father for her hand was a picture of asking God for her heart.

At that realization I wept.

Later, I apologized to Jane’s father. He was gracious and told me he never thought much about it. But for me, that moment was transformative. I understood that winning Jane’s heart wasn’t about my effort alone—it was about aligning myself with God.

Influenced from Above

In my upcoming book, Influenced from Above: Where Faith and Influence Meet, the main character, John Andrews, faces a similar struggle. He believes in prayer but isn’t sure God actually speaks to us. As the story unfolds, his eyes and ears open. He begins to see that God had been speaking all along—he just hadn’t noticed.

That’s not so different from how influence works in everyday life.

Opportunities Missed

In my teaching, I often use the acronym PEOPLE: Powerful Everyday Opportunities to Persuade that are Lasting and Ethical.

The challenge isn’t that opportunities don’t exist—it’s that we don’t always see them.

Think about buying a new car. The week after, it suddenly feels like everyone is driving the same car you just purchased. Of course, those cars were always there. But now that your focus has shifted, you notice them.

I believe God’s voice works in much the same way. When our eyes, ears, and hearts are open, we begin to notice His presence in ways that surprise us. And once we start noticing, we realize He’s been speaking all along.

Cialdini’s Principles of Influence

These research based principles show us how people respond to reciprocity, authority, consistency, liking, consensus, scarcity, and unity. They help us build trust, inspire commitment, and foster connection. But behind those principles are deeper truths—truths woven into humanity itself.

That’s the heart of Influenced from Above. Influence isn’t just a human tool for better business or relationships. It’s a reflection of something greater. God designed influence, and when we use it ethically and with humility, we tap into something eternal.

That’s why I tell audiences that influence isn’t about manipulation. It’s about aligning with truth, treating people with respect, and creating outcomes that are mutually beneficial. When we do that, influence not only changes behavior—it can change hearts.

Why doesn’t God make His voice louder or clearer?

I don’t think God competes with the noise of our world. He doesn’t need to. He patiently waits until we’re ready to notice. Influence works the same way. People respond best when they feel like they’re buying as opposed to “being sold.” When we create the right environment—what Dr. Cialdini calls pre-suasion—the path to “yes” feels natural.

If you’d like to see how this plays out in John Andrews’ story, I invite you to read the preview chapters of Influenced from Above (link below). In it, you’ll witness John’s first undeniable experience of hearing God speak—and how it reshapes his understanding of both faith and influence.

Two Questions to Ponder

• Have you ever experienced a moment when you knew God was speaking directly to you?
• In what ways do you sense His presence guiding your daily life?

Your story might be the encouragement someone else needs today. And who knows? Sharing it might be the influence God intends for you to have.

Want a sneak peek at Influenced from Above? Click here.

Edited with ChatGPT

Brian Ahearn

Brian Ahearn is the Chief Influence Officer at Influence PEOPLE and a faculty member at the Cialdini Institute.

An author, TEDx speaker, international trainer, coach, and consultant, Brian helps clients apply influence in everyday situations to boost results.

As one of only a dozen Cialdini Method Certified Trainers in the world, Brian was personally trained and endorsed by Robert Cialdini, Ph.D., the most cited living social psychologist on the science of ethical influence.

Brian’s first book, Influence PEOPLE, was named one of the 100 Best Influence Books of All Time by Book Authority. His follow-up, Persuasive Selling for Relationship Driven Insurance Agents, was an Amazon new release bestseller. His latest book, The Influencer: Secrets to Success and Happiness, is a business parable designed to teach you how to use influence at home and the office.

Brian’s LinkedIn courses on persuasive selling and coaching have been viewed by more than 800,000 people around the world. His TEDx Talk on pre-suasion has more than a million views!