May the Words

I don’t remember a single word I said.

In so many ways that alone was a beautiful answer to prayer, the one I’d been praying for weeks before Declare, asking God to get me out of my own way so He could shine. I didn’t want the glory. Maybe because I didn’t feel as though I deserved it, but mostly because I knew that He did.

God had given me a quick vision for a message about using social media intentionally – how to serve His kingdom with it – and I was desperate to be faithful. I think I was.

I hope I was.

Somewhere in those first moments of brainstorming ideas God brought me back to a memory I’d long since forgotten. The liturgy of a church I hadn’t stepped foot in for over a decade, Scripture on repeat for so long that my mind remembered long after my ears stopped hearing.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. Oh Lord my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

Said before every service started, and shouldn’t it be the posture of our hearts before we post anything online as well? If we’re to be intentional about how we use these places and spaces that God has gifted us – a gift of words given by the One who IS the Word – shouldn’t we pause to consider what we’re sharing?

• If I said “x” – would it be acceptable to God?
• If I argued about “x” – would it be acceptable to God?
• If I wrote that, Tweeted that, blogged that, Periscoped that, Instagrammed that – would it be glorifying to God – or to me?

We are called to shine a light into a dark world, to let our broken places be the spaces where God beams through and those around us see Jesus in our hope and our joy. We’re not called to be perfect, but we’re called by the One who is perfect to make disciples, to share His word to the ends of the earth, and to serve His kingdom – not ours.

 

What does that look like? It looks like sharing the words God puts on our hearts to say, whether or not they have any viral potential. It looks like creating where and what and when God calls us because He is the creator God, the one who created everything out of nothing and what we do – even on social media – is an outpouring of the gifts He has given us.

Why does it matter? 

“But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it?” Romans 10:14

You.

You are sent to do it. You with your blog and your Twitter account and your Instagram graphics. These platforms and places that God has gifted us have so much Kingdom impact potential.

• What if your blog is the only one someone reads?
• What if your Facebook page is the only place someone finds hope?
• What if your Instagram feed is the only place someone hears about freedom?
• What if your Twitter account is the first place someone feels encouraged?
• What if your Periscope video is the only way someone would hear about the life-changing redemptive power and grace of God?

How can they hear if no one tells them?

Your words change lives.

Your words set people free.

Your words are powerful weapons of light in the fight against darkness on the internet.

Your words bring hope.

Your words bring encouragement.

Your words – your story – your testimony – the very life God has given you to live, the place He has you in – they make a Kingdom impact.

I don’t remember all of the stories I told in front of that screen. But I remember the hearts of the women I met, and they were beautiful. They encouraged me and gave me hope. They challenged me and made me laugh. They ate amazing Tex-Mex with me, spoke Truth over me when I was filled with doubt and loved me well. And now I hold on tightly to these words, as I settle back into the day-to-day and prayerfully seek ways to apply all God pressed onto my heart:

“I will bless the Eternal, whose wise teaching orchestrates my days and centers my mind at night. He is ever present with me; at all times He goes before me. I will not live in fear or abandon my calling because He stands at my right hand.” Psalm 16: 7-8, The Voice

May the words of our mouths, and the ones we type, be acceptable to God.

***

Q4U: How can you be more intentional as you use social media today? Who do you follow who does this well, and what can you learn from them?

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