We Are In This World BUT Not Of This World | Navigating Social Media, WWJD, FOMO

Welcome back to another blog post, it's your sister in Christ Dasia, host of Daughters of The King. God's ministry I'm just a vessel. I hope y'all are having a blessed week so far.

#HeyGworlHey if you aren't familiar with this segment it's a segment here's details about it below ⬇️:

Hey Gworl Hey is designed for women to share their God-given testimonies. No testimony is too big or too small. If God was in it orchestrating it then it is indeed a testimony. You choose how much you want to share sis.

- can be anonymous if you’d like by your request 🤎

- can be kept between me & you by your request 🤎

- I can share it on my podcast by your request 🤎

- You never know who’s listening & watching and needs to hear your testimony and that’s why I created HeyGworlHey, whether you send your testimony or not. I’ll continue to share mine and hopefully this will get other women to do the same. I encourage you to participate to allow other women to hear what God has done for you. 🤎Don’t be shy, Gods given you a story for a purpose. Our testimonies are bigger than us. Our testimonies inspire many people.

- Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.🤎

Be sure to check out the link below to submit your testimonies.

https://linktr.ee/daughtersoftheking

My #HeyGworlHey is I've been worshiping God through rest through silence through meditation. When people hear the word worship they automatically assume this loud voice of us singing praises to God which is true in most cases. The simple definition for worship is the act of attributing reverent honor and homage to God. I choose to honor God by being still in His presence, resting & remaining silent to I can listen to His small still voice. Sometimes worship is crying out to God, playing that worship song to praise Him, there's different forms of worship.

Today, I'm discussing the unfortunate harsh truth about social media and how it affects our faith, mental health and so much more. If you want more depth revelation check out the podcast that's dropping this Thursday August 3,2023.

Truth About Social Media

Social media are websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking.

Why is this important? Why is this a problem?

Unfortunately, social media has become toxic in many ways to our everyday life. Most people wake up and instantly go to their social media to check how many people viewed their post, commented, and liked it. This is detrimental to anyone's mental health. Multiple studies have found a significant link with social media and one's mental health. As human beings we need socialization skills and to connect with others it's how we thrive, laugh, and enjoy life. Well nowadays we have social media and many of us rely on instagram, TikTok, Facebook, twitter, Snapchat , etc to connect with other people. Social media can never replace our in-person connections with other people. We've seen this with covid-19 pandemic when we had to wear the masks, social distance, it affected so many people mental health just as much as physical health because of the lack socialization. In fact, studies have shown the more a person spend on social media watching and scrolling upon someone else's life the more lonely, isolated, and depressed they'll begin to feel.

God wants us to connect with others but social media shouldn't be the mainstream of that connection. We are called to preach the gospel and love others and yes we can do this with just a tap of a button with our electronics but there's so much more power in sharing the gospel in person. Not too long ago me and my friend decided to spread the gospel in Target, handing Bible verses out to people and I even got to pray over two people it was amazing! Yes I could've shared Bible verses on my IG story , I could've even prayed for someone over the phone as well BUT that isn't as fulfilling as connecting with someone in-person. Geez, I even got to watch the Holy Spirit work through my friend to preach the gospel in Target with me.

Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Faith is contagious I tell you.

Pros & Cons

Social media positives:

• Communicate and stay up to date with family and friends around the world.

• Find new friends and communities; network with other people who share similar interests or ambitions.

• Join or promote & raise awareness on important issues.

• Seek or offer emotional support during tough times.

• Find vital social connection if you live in a remote area, for example, or have limited independence, social anxiety, etc

• Find your creative self.

• Discover and learn

Don't get me wrong social media definitely has a lot of benefits as well especially for business and ministry to market your business then to raise awareness that Jesus Christ is King! Ahahaha. Just don't let social media come in between your relationship with Jesus. Set boundaries , have discernment and guard your heart and mind.

Preverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Social media negatives:

• Insecurities about life/ appearance

• Fear of missing out

• Isolation

• Depression/ anxiety

• Cyber bullying

• Self-absorption

The Bible tells us to not be lovers of ourselves. 2 Timothy 3:2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy. You can't be of the world and of God. What is sitting on the throne of your heart? Social media ( how you please man) or God ( how you walk in purpose)?

FOMO

Fear of missing out is a thing especially within the millennial generation like myself. We often times fear we are going to miss out so we spend endless times scrolling instead of praying. Where do we draw the line? Sis, let me make this clear you'll never miss out on anything when you're following your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Looks can be deceiving. Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Just because someone appeals to be doing good and living they "best life" doesn't mean it's real and even if it is real and they're doing it with worldly values then it has no genuine purpose it serves no glorification to God. Someone can have 1 million followers all the money in the world but if they're not following Christ then it's all meaningless. Why do you think so many people get rich and still feel depressed? Because money can't solve what's going on internal. The same way our body needs care our soul needs care and that is why a relationship with Jesus Christ is important.

Hebrews 13:5 ESV / 8,648 helpful votes

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

1 Timothy 6:10 ESV / 8,474 helpful votes

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Proverbs 13:11 ESV / 8,116 helpful votes

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

Matthew 6:24 ESV / 7,438 helpful votes

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Seek The Kingdom First

Follow the purpose God has for you the rest will come Matthew 6:33. Most people chase a bag instead of answering the call God has given them on their life. God blesses His children it is possible to happy , living well , and at peace with God. Age is not a factor, ethnicity is not a factor, financial status is not a factor, culture is not a factor when it comes to walking with God.

Seeking God first comes with a cost, it comes with choosing your bible over your phone when you first wake up and when you're going to bed and then even throughout your day. It requires a constant prayer life, devotion, dedication, community, commitment and more. The Holy Spirit is our helper. Don't seek likes, views, and comments but seek the Kingdom.

God promises to give us everything we need, maybe not always everything we desire because sometimes are desires have the wrong motives and/or will become idolatry. God will open doors that no man can shut. With God all things are possible, as you seek Him, surely you shall find.

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Romans 10:13 ESV / 8 helpful votes For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 14 helpful votes But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 19:26 ESV / 21 helpful votes But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Most Christian's replace their devotion with God with Christian TikTok, online pastors, a bible scripture they saw online. I'm honestly shocked I have to say this but social media should never replace your devotion with God. Yes our phones are at our finger tips but we still need to get in God's presence and if we are not careful enough our phones can become an idol and keep us distracted from God. I love Christian podcasts, online churches, the Bible scriptures all on my feed and don't even get me started with the Christian humor but that can't be a replacement for our relationship with the Heavenly Father. I suggest spending time with God in your bible, read the word for yourself, use context/commentary, pray, and write what you've learned. Then if you want to listen to a sermon, podcast, or watch Christian movies whatever then do so let that be an "add-on" to your faith not a replacement.

If you go to a hair salon and get your hair done, let's say you decide to get a protein treatment which includes straightening of your hair and trimming but you want color also. Then the stylists says the color isn't included in the price of your hair being treated. She says "the original treatment cost is $100 for color it'll be an additional $20 so $120 altogether + tax". You're not going to say "okay you know what how about I just skip the treatment altogether." That would be absurd because when color your hair with all the chemicals it needs that treatment, wash, and style so it can put the look altogether beautiful. You're going to probably say "that's fine, I'll pay the additional fee". It's the same with God, all the online resources pertaining to Christianity is an add on feature not a replacement. If we skip our devotion we skip our meal. Our souls needs to be fed and social media cannot fed you in that way.

Romans 6:16 ESV / 63 helpful votes

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

John 8:34 ESV / 174 helpful votes Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

WWJD If He Was In Our Shoes

I think if Jesus was in our shoes in modern day society first off he definitely would use social media to glorify God's kingdom. I don't think he would completely ditch it but he'll use social media but not let it use him.

Often times throughout Jesus life we see that we suppose to reflect him that he can to be an example for mankind to connect us back to God(the father). I believe Jesus would've prayed about certain things he let influence him, he would've had discernment, he would've fasted and he would've proceed with caution.

I definitely know if Jesus was on social media during the time he was in then the devil would be even madder. Imagine all the disciples posting a flick on Instagram it's crazy right and I'm sure a lot of religious Pharisees would read this and say "God would never use the devils app" well that's where you wrong. God can use anyone and anything, social media isn't the devils app but it is influenced by people who worship the devil and most of those influencers are huge stars that people idolize like Beyoncé.

As I'm wrapping up this blog I wanna leave you with some solutions if you're struggling with having boundaries with social media. Perhaps you want to go deeper with God, want to know His voice but social media is so easily accessible that it's hard but with God nothing's impossible. You can actually pray for God to let His desires become yours so then you won't even find pleasure in social media anymore but proceeding with caution.

• Set time parameters for your social media use, resist the algorithm’s effort to lure you with additional content, and stop comparing your life to the fictional lives others create for themselves online.

• For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. (1 Timothy 6:7-8)

• They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. (1 John 4:5) 

• You need discernment

• See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8)

• Do what’s best for you , don’t feel bad for blocking, unfollowing, silencing notifications..

• when was the last time you checked your following list ?

• As Paul wrote, “Bad company ruins good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). If we’re going to be active on social media, we must make sure we surround ourselves with people who help us be “salt” and “light.”

• “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)

• Guard your hearts & mind

• What are you exposing your heart to?

• What is your talk like on social media? How helpful is it to others? How much of it is motivated by love and grace and joy and patience and faithfulness and mercy? How much of it is outside of those standards? How much have you allowed yourself to be part of the outrage culture?

• God said make the most of your time for the days are evil,

• And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15)

• Use an app to track how much time you spend on social media each day such as screen time. Set a goal for how much you need to reduce it by.

• Turn off your phone at certain times of the day, such as when you’re driving, in a meeting, at the gym, having dinner, spending time with offline friends, or playing with your kids. Don’t take your phone with you to the bathroom.

• Don’t bring your phone or tablet to bed. Turn devices off and leave them in another room overnight to charge.

• Disable social media notifications. It’s hard to resist the constant buzzing, beeping, and dinging of your phone alerting you to new messages. Turning off notifications can help you regain control of your time and focus.

• Limit checks. If you compulsively check your phone every few minutes, wean yourself off by limiting your checks to once every 15 minutes. Then once every 30 minutes, then once an hour. There are apps that can automatically limit when you’re able to access your phone.

• Try removing social media apps from your phone so you can only check Facebook, Twitter and the like from your tablet or computer. Try removing one social media app at a time to see how much you really miss it.

• Spend time with Friends/Family offline

• Express gratitude ( volunteer, reflection, etc)

• Change your focus

Deep Reflection

Are you using social media as a substitute for real life?

Is there a healthier substitute for your social media use?

Are you an active or a passive user on social media?

Does social media leave you feeling inadequate or disappointed about your life?

We’ve been called to live “in the world,” but not “of the world.” When we do this as Christ followers, we are simply following the example of our Master.

Let’s moderate our social media use, resist the temptation of celebrity, focus on what’s true and avoid what’s detestable as we represent God and share the Gospel.

Hope this blog blessed you stay tune for more! God bless you

Make sure to comment below how social media is affecting you and the boundaries you've set