Influenced: Seeking Jesus in a World of Influence
Like it or not, we live in an age of influence! We are surrounded by influence via social media platforms, movies, ads, and even our favorite retailers. Is it just me or does your trip to Target get you in trouble? I mean you walk in with a plan, a list even to get a few things, but as soon as you walk through the doors you are hit with the latest perfectly executed marketing concept and fall into the trap of “needing” that one extra item. You are not alone, Friend!
I actually enjoy the world of influence that we live in! I love being inspired and gathering new ideas, it lights me up inside and gives me this burst of creative energy. Then, there is the other side of influence that stirs up feelings of discontentment, ungratefulness, and lack. I’ve fallen victim to this effect time and time again. I’ll go on social media to search for things that bring me inspiration and excitement and end up feeling empty, unsatisfied, and as if what I have isn’t enough. I want more and feel the desire for things or experiences that were never meant for me.
There are times that I’ve allowed influence from social platforms to consume my heart. I’ve made it an idol. I’ve given it the power that it was ever meant to have. This is when the Holy Spirit gives me a gentle nudge to pause, log off, and seek Jesus because what my heart needs the most in these moments is to sit in His presence, release all I’ve consumed, and allow Him to redirect my heart.
This past week was one of those weeks where I fasted from all social platforms. The influence I was consuming started making me feel unsure of myself and how I should be showing up on social media the way God desired me to. I began to notice myself looking too intensely at how other people were doing things and became confused and unsettled…So, I paused, replaced my scrolling with sitting in His presence, and I talked and listened.
All I can say is wow! The way God waits so patiently for us to choose Him, seek Him, and desire Him over anything else is a blessing. I dedicated this time back to God and He poured into me and gave me direction and so much peace. He changed my perspective and gave me His insight.
I honestly believe that this world of influence can be such a gift, but it can also be the opposite if God is not invited into what we are consuming, especially on social media platforms. I want to encourage anyone who may be feeling the weight of influence in a way that feels discouraging, confusing, or unsettling to pause, log off, and seek God. Sometimes it isn’t the influence that we are consuming that is the problem, but it may be adding to underlying thoughts, desires, or issues we may be dealing with.
Prayer:
Lord, I pray for your children who may be experiencing influence in a way that is making them feel discontent, lack, or any other negative effect. Please gently remind them that you are truly their source of all things. Encourage them to pause and seek you for clarity and direction in these moments. Lord, we know that there is so much good that can come from the influence we experience in this world but we need to invite to into all we are consuming.
In Jesus name, Amen.
