The abundant life comes when you allow God to determine whether or not you have someone or something in your life, and, if so, when and under what circumstances.
In the summer of 2009, I opened up a Facebook account; I was late to the game, as most of my friends had been using it for years. I had gone through a series of valleys and disappointments; there were alot of demands on my life and my time, and I was hopeful that this would be a way for me to keep in touch with friends, since I was beginning to feel pretty isolated by that point.
Within a short time, it was clear to me that using Facebook was not helping me to feel more connected; in fact, it was causing me to feel more isolated. To see posts and pictures of everyone else doing all of these wonderful, fun things ... leading what seemed (at least on the exterior) to be these perfect, trouble-free lives, just left me feeling even worse about my circumstances. I knew God was telling me that Facebook was not the place for me (at least not at that time), and I quickly stopped using it. It was a good thing I listened, too, because just a month later, my world was rocked to a point that I never would have imagined.
Three years later, I was suddenly feeling a nudge to try Facebook again. The interesting thing was, my circumstances really hadn't changed ... but, apparently, God had plans. I started out using it the way everyone else seems to use it; sharing a joke or anecdote, posting a picture, celebrating a birthday. It was fun, and I quickly reconnected with many friends - old and new.
Within about 6 months, I was scrolling through my newsfeed one day, and there was a post about Christianity, and I felt like God was asking me to share it.
"Seriously, Lord? Are you sure? This is really putting myself out there!"
Generally speaking, people don't appreciate it when other people post things on Facebook regarding religion or politics, and being known for having a strong faith was one thing ... but being labeled a "Jesus Freak" was more than a bit outside of my comfort zone. It was an act (or rather, a post) of sheer obedience.
That spring, I was doing a bible study called Breaking Free by Beth Moore (fantastic by the way!). It was about overcoming strongholds; a word I had never even really heard up until that point. God used that bible study to bring a couple of strongholds to my attention, and by the end of the study, I knew I needed to "retrain" my thoughts on a few things and get them in-line with God's thoughts, and I felt like God was asking me to use Facebook to do it. I started posting verses that He was using to speak to me. I could scroll down my wall at the end of each day and see a clear pattern or record of what He had been saying to me. And, at that point in time, I had no idea how to post something only to myself, so if I wanted something on my wall, I had to post it for all of my friends to see. ... You want to talk about "putting yourself out there"???? It doesn't get any more "out there" than that! Complete transparency and vulnerability. He was asking me to overcome just about every fear I had - fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of what other people thought - and "walk on water" with Him.
Without question, God started speaking to me (and, eventually, through me) by using Facebook as a tool (one among many), and He freed me from my stronghold. Within a year or so, I still really thought that this was just about me; after all, not many people ever seemed to "like", "share", or "comment" on most of my posts.
But, an interesting thing started happening. People started coming to me privately and telling me that they were reading - and benefitting from - my posts. And, ultimately, God has led me to start writing this blog (which required an even greater level of faith, transparency, and vulnerability; one which I never would have had if He hadn't been gradually building me up to it over the past 3 years).
Most days, I feel led to check Facebook and post certain things. If I am not careful to follow God's lead each day, I can allow Facebook to become a distraction from the other things He wants me to do in a given day. On the same token, if I am not careful, I can allow fear or pride to keep me from posting or sharing something that I feel led to post or share (this has become even more of a factor for me to pray about since I have learned how to post things privately, just to myself). I have to be willing to surrender my time and my will to Him on a daily basis; some days I do it better than others.
In the past year and a half, I have had times when He has set boundaries for me within my use of Facebook. For example, I had a Facebook friend who I know was posting things relevant to her, but fear and insecurity was causing me to believe she was directing her posts at me personally. The problem was not with her; it was with me ... but I needed to block her posts from my newsfeed because I knew my response to them was not coming from God.
There have also been times when things may have appeared to be coming from God, but when I have questioned them and held them up to the truth of God's word (as a whole), they were intended to lead me astray. They have "a form of godliness but denying its power" - 2 Timothy 3:5, or they take God's Word and paraphrase it or manipulate it to suit their purposes.
There have been at least 2-3 times in the past year or so when God has asked me to completely stop using Facebook for a period of time (usually several weeks) or to use it on a very limited basis; sometimes because He wanted my undivided attention - He wanted to spend time privately, just with me. Other times because He had other things He wanted me to do.
In and of itself, Facebook is neither good nor bad; it's a tool ... you can use it, God can use it, or Satan/the World can use it. I am guessing that God will not necessarily ask every person to use it in the way He asked me to use it, but (as with every other "tool" in life) everyone has a choice to make about who they will allow to be in control of if, when, and how they use it. ... Experiencing the "abundant life" Jesus intends may depend upon the answer.
© I Lift My Voice, 2015.