Recently I started participating in a bible study called, “No Other Gods” by Kelly Minter. This should be fun, I thought. Women, food, some bible lessons. Amen. Little did I know it was going to make me all sorts of twitchy. And somewhat uncomfortable. And a lot convicted.
The first week we dove into the definition of idols- or functional gods- as basically anything we set our hearts on other than God.
Oh I don’t have any of those pesky things I thought.
{Just a little warning– at exactly the time you think something will never apply to you, guess what…it will.}
I love writing and fluffing this little virtual web home where I can get lost for hours crafting the right graphic, curating the perfect pictures and collecting the most powerful verses and prayers to show you Jesus.
But I soon realized how like the Israelites freed from slavery who used their gifts of golden earrings (given by the grace God through the Egyptians who sent them packing with such costly adornment) I could easily turn the gift of creating this blog into my own golden calf… Especially when I turned my attention from His truth to the lies of numbers and tried to cater my message to the masses instead of to the one.
***
See there’s this handy little tool called “stats” usually in graph form available on the blog dashboard that only the writer can see. It shows how many people visit, comment or like your posts on a given day. It will also reveal what your most popular post is and other ‘pertinent’ information which can motivate you to “improve your reach” in web terms.
Or, if framed in the wrong light, those statistics can just down right intimidate or entice you to feel bad for not being more “popular”. They can mess with your message and your methods until your focus becomes fractured.
But facts aren’t necessarily the truth and feeding on lies can starve an imagination.
Sure it may be true that all you precious readers, on a single day, could fit in my modest real life living room but the truth is that those numbers are not a true measurement of my worth nor a genuine indicator of what you necessarily need or want to hear. And inviting you into this virtual living room yet constantly looking out the paisley curtains to see who else might stop by is to say the least, rude.
Because who am I to keep time and tally for God? And if the one person who needs to hear the good word is already here curled on my pink ruffled chair what business is it of mine to guard the gate and demand a greater audience?
***
Thankfully God intervened as He always does.
Jesus said, “I tell you THE TRUTH, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.” Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” ~ John 6:32-35
Every day we are bombarded with lies- some in media, occasionally some from people in our paths but more often than not we suffer the most from the untrue things we tell ourselves. We are unfortunately our own worst critic. And when we are spiritually starving and hungry, it’s easy to idolize the approval and attention of others and even easier to rely on counterfeit characterizations rather than the truth.
The truth is, trusting in Jesus is the only thing that can satisfy.
Yesterday His truth met me head on in these songs:
Everything else will pass away but His truth is the only thing that remains.
***
A simple prayer for all who struggle finding the truth:
O God, I repent in dust and ashes of living in my own light and warming myself by my own fires. I give up all the lies knowing that if I don’t have YOUR love only then am I truly nothing. I put you, Jesus, in your rightful place at the head of the altar and as Lord of my life knowing that in the small and the big, your way is best and will be done. I step over in faith to your side Lord and am willing to abandon every vain and selfish pursuit that wages war in my soul. Take my heart Father, gird it and guard it, make it willing to follow You. May I abide in your truth alone.
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. ~ Ephesians 2:10
♥
P.S. If you could use a little more truth in your life, you’re not alone! It’s my pleasure to create connection, community and sometimes cute stuff just for you! And I’d love it if you’d join our little truth seeking tribe. Just click right here to get the scoop and a set of printable scripture cards! Can’t wait to meet you soon in your inbox.
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I’m happy to be your neighbor today at Holley’s. What a great warning that our blogs can easily become our own golden calf. I think there can be so many idols in our hearts and lives that we don’t even realize we have. I love this – “The truth is, trusting in Jesus is the only thing that can satisfy.” Amen! Thank you, Heather, for this reminder to search my heart and for the encouragement! It’s amazing that you include the song “I Will Trust in You.” When I first heard it on someone’s site yesterday, it really moved me to trust God in everything. God confirmed it to me when a second blogger posted it, and now He has confirmed it to me a third time today. 🙂
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Hooray for confirming witnesses- AMEN! ♥ I had a few of my own today as I struggled with putting this post about truth out there : ) I love how God hammers a point home in so many ways. xo Trudy and have a wonderful day!
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Heather,
How eloquently you write about looking out your paisley curtains {I loved how you strung together those words!) and how it brings home the truth that those we reach may be sitting right beside us or they could be across the globe. And I think the most beautiful thing is that we may never know who we connect with or the impact our words may have, but if we’re following the one who whispered to us, “write a blog,” then we know that he’s writing our stories and sharing them with those we meet. And if I weren’t following that whisper, I would never have connected with YOU! And I love that Lauren Daigle song too! xo
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Aww thanks girl~ Honestly today’s post was a struggle… ♥ And I’m so glad we listened to the whisper of writing too!! Your comment just reminded me about this past week’s SS lesson: Results aren’t our responsibility, but obedience is. Guess I should lean in more to what I’m teaching the kids! ♥ Thanks for always being a sweet song in my week.
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Thanks for this Heather. Honest, up front, putting the whole stats thing on the table. Who among us hasn’t wrestled with this ‘idol.’ I appreciate your honesty. And I do love visiting here.
Count me in as one of your faithful stats, ok?
;-}
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Aww thanks Linda 🙂 Yes it just feels like the big elephant in the room nobody likes to talk about sometimes but if one person enjoys their visit and feels uplifted then God’s showing me that’s all that matters. Obedience is my gig, results are his right?! And thanks for always leaving sweet encouraging comments. ♥
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Me, too, all of the above (except I didn’t hear the song yet.) Who really has a pink ruffled chair in their living room? I’m there in it today w/ you (w/ coffee, French Roast, please) – I struggle too and wish I didn’t. So silly before all this stats and blogging came about – so I, too, am learning to leave the results to God. This am I read Batterson’s The Grave Robber (I do a page every week or so…) and Peter walked on that water momentariliy while looking at Jesus and at least he got out of the boat. So, yes, I want to serve, write, speak more – but I want to do all for Jesus and not me – AND sometimes I want to stay home on my red paisley chair and watch netflix. Scary to move ahead. Scarier to say “no.” And I’m a little nervous about the speaking gig in Seattle – not sure why when I have a retreat the weekend before which is 4 talks – which I do love, so I know I’m supposed to. Seattle could’ve said “no” but they didn’t so I’m to go. Back to prepping. I’m taking the “day off” – still in my pottery barn robe which needs a good wash- and will stay in until Talk # 2 is finished. Thanks heather for your great post and writing and for your comments. Don’t you love 19 year olds??
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So the chair is actually cream with pink cushions and a tan ruffle on the bottom… : ) I wish I had a true pink ruffled chair…but my menfolk would not stand (sit?) for it I’m sure! But you are welcome anytime! I do love some Mark Batterson books, but haven’t come across that one- it’s on the list now : ) Amen to all those concerns– I feel like I’m continuously checking my motives and having to prod myself to step out of the boat. More eyes on Jesus and less on the water is probably the answer ♥ I’m in awe of your speaking gigs : ) It took me 32 tries to make a one minute welcome video for the FB Seamless Study… I can’t imagine speaking in front of people though I feel a pull that direction sometimes. Prayers for your Seattle speaking trip and retreat talks! Thanks for the awesome conversation as always and yes 19 yr olds are quite interesting ♥
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The truth is Jesus. With Him, we will never be lost. 🙂
Beautiful thoughts to bring in the weekend.
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Thanks Lux! Amen!
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Oh Heather, I have been there. Yes, the audience of One- that’s all we need. Thank you for this beautiful reminder, friend!
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