Messages
If you are on social media (I suppose if you are reading this blog you could say yes), anyways, there are a lot of things your eyes see. A lot of things your mind is exposed to. A lot of things that can sink into your heart.
I know for me, when a new year starts, there is so much hope resting in the next year. So many wonders of what it will entail. And if you haven’t noticed, so many things that social media is telling you to be or do.
For some reason, I’ve had umpteen “sponsored” ads come up on Facebook and Instagram, telling me what I can look like in 12 weeks. Even sometimes 8. Or how many pounds I can lose in 31 days. People along beaches living the dream, and trying to convince me that that IS the dream.
I’ve also had numerous ads pop up on what I “should” buy. Things that will make me happy, make my life easier, make my life more enjoyable, and make my life worth something. I know this all sounds crazy, and maybe a bit exaggerated, but try scrolling through your social media and you will see that this is not far from the truth.
Yet I find myself seeing these things over and over in a day, and then I start to wonder, if there truth in those messages? I find myself comparing my life to those ads and wondering, am I really happy? Maybe I’m the only one, but I think if we dig deep and truly think about the messages we allow into our lives, we’d be surprised at what we find our ears and hearts listening to.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not against buying things. I am also not against getting or staying healthy! I try to exercise as much as I can and try to allow things into our home that are useful and honoring to the life God has called us to live. I’m always trying to figure out that line, but when I see it’s too much, I get rid of some of it. When I see my pants getting tighter, well, I try to get rid of some of that too. Trust me, it happens to everyone!
What I’m trying to say is that we all have messages hitting us across our face, stamping our hearts, and influencing our lives. But what TRUTH are we allowing in? Are our lives so filled with lies and mixed messages that in the end we filter out the truth?
This coming year I want to keep a closer eye at what I allow in my life. In the Bible it says, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8
That is what I want my lifesong to look like this year. Keeping the truth, the truth. And filtering out the rest. Oh be careful little eye what you see, oh be careful little ears what you hear, oh be careful little tongue what you say…
I hope this coming year, you are encouraged in some way and can know that you are not alone, but there is someone on the other side of this post, telling you how much you are loved, valued, and cared for! And someone who just desires to speak truth into your life.
Happy 2019, folks!
