Social Networking.
It so funny how addicting these sites can be. What was life like before you knew the status of 400 people who you haven't seen in +10 years? Have you ever stopped and wondered if the reason you stopped talking to them in the first place was because you weren't the friends you thought you were or you grew apart? Or, because as you got older, you changed, your values change, you become two totally different people as adults.
Cracked.
That is what social networking has done to my Christian life. I reconnected to all these people who couldn't have cared less what my walk with God looked like. And instead of joining me, I slowly joined them. Now, I must interject here that there have been some really good connections for me. People I once was really close to. It was fun to see how their life turned out and revive our friendships. But for the most part, it really hindered my relationship with God. My prayer life suffered; my quite times stopped; my attendance to church hit rock bottom.
I won't go into my much of my testimony. I will save that for another post. I will say that I am a suicide survivor. I overdosed on Tylenol when I was 17 years old which damaged my liver. So tell me folks---why on earth would I want to turn to alcohol now as I have "reconnected" with friends? I'm so foolish at times. I found myself in pictures on friends pages with drink in hand. I didn't even stop to think how I looked to the world, or what that may have done to my testimony. I just did it.
I am fighting back.
I found a bible my grandma gave me. It's called "Time with God: The New Testament for Busy People." It's on my desk at work, so that before I even begin my day I read the lesson. It has been so good to get back into God's word. I'm filling in the cracks, bit by bit with Scripture. (This has helped in more ways than social networking too. My job has been extremely stressful lately. Upper management has really cracked the whip and we have lost many of the freedoms we once had. So, I pray every morning for my workday, my co-workers, and other requests.)
I pray that God will continue to discipline me. I want to grow and prosper as a Christian. And, I want a life that reflects Him. I want to do something that matters with my life. I want to be surrounded by fellow Christians who have my best interest at heart and who will give me Christian advice and encouragement.
5 comments:
I'm praying for you, Elaine! We've never met, and I'm on the other side of the country, but I am a sister in Christ. I'm glad you're getting back on track. I know how easy it can be to get sidetracked. God bless!
For some reason I'm just now getting all of your posts through my reader--- so weird!!! Little man is so handsome!
I'm just getting a chance to catch up on my blog reading. I think we have all been exactly where you are at. I admire your honesty and will be lifting you up, girl!
As God's child, Satan only has the authority we give him. I've been fighting him on some things lately and needed to read what you wrote below......"Satan, you can not have my family!" AMEN!!
I think the dividing line is when you see living a Christian life as an absolute privilege and not a sacrifice of something fun. When you get to the point serving Him is such a thrill to you and reading His word is exciting as if you're reading a deep, deep novel with interesting characters, only then will you guard that relationship with everything in you. There will be many, many times the enemy will try to lure you away using whatever means he can ... even things that 'seem' right (Proverbs 14:12), but it's end will always be destruction.
Glad you felt that Holy Spirit convicting power before the destruction. Just remember this ... you prayed for many, many years for this precious child and one of your biggest goals was to give Him back to the Lord. The enemy would love nothing less than to stop that completely. It's never to early to show Him righteousness. We ALL fail at it ... none of us exempt from the devil's schemes, but God is faithful and just to forgive us (1 John 1:9).
Keep digging and asking God to give you the desire, hunger and thirst for His righteousness. It's His will that you have that and He will give it to you (Psalm 63).
Remember what Satan means for evil, God uses for good (Genesis 50:20) and He can turn your testimony around.
I love you.
Glad to see you're back! :-)
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