But I have raised you upfor this very purpose,that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. (Exodus 9:16)
For the past several years, I’ve been on a journey of intentionality – of living with a purpose, embarking on everything intentionally. This has all been based on the realization that if I don’t do things on purpose, I won’t do them at all. The pursuit of intentional living hasn’t been constant, as with most abstract journeys in life. Sometimes circumstances have made it more important, and other times, it has been relegated to the proverbial back burner while I focus on something else. Recently, though, the Lord has been working on my heart about being intentional with Facebook and other social networking tools.
I write this knowing I may step on toes. I write this knowing, too, though, that this may challenge someone to intentional living themselves…and that might be a good thing. On top of that, I write this knowing that my journey is just that – MY journey, and God may not be working on other people the way He is working on me. Maybe so, but maybe not. My intention (ha, ha) is not to offend.
The thing about Facebook, to me, is that it is easy to get sucked into the habit of posting anything and everything, with no rhyme or reason for why any of it is going up for everyone to see.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve done it. I’ve done a LOT of it. I’ve posted the mundane posts about what I’m doing that day. I post lots of things about what my little girl says or does. I put silly pictures up on my wall, and I’ve been known to repost links and things just because. I’ve posted dozens and dozens of pictures of my daughter so that my grandparents and her grandparents can see them. I’ve done all of that and more.
I have.
What God is challenging me to, though, is to really think about what I’m posting……and why.
If I choose to post something – status, link, picture, whatever – what is the purpose behind it? What am I trying to do with whatever it is that I am posting?
After having given this a lot of thought, I’ve had to come up with a purpose statement for Facebook for myself. Does that sound silly? I am almost certain that it does, but I remind you: this is my journey, and this is where God has brought me.
My Purpose Statement for Facebook: To connect and communicate with people in a way that glorifies God. I will share things only if they 1)encourage people in their own relationship with the Lord, 2)enhance family relationships (e.g. sharing pictures that distant family would like to see), or 3)entertain in a way that points to the Lord and clearly reflects my relationship with Him.
It seems broad, maybe. But sometimes when I read it, it seems narrow. Either way, I can promise that anything I post on Facebook from this point onward will have been held up to this standard. It will have been tested and, if it makes it into your news feed, it will serve one of those purposes.
Intentional living has become important to me in all areas of my life. Why should Facebook – the medium by which I interact with hundreds (???) of people daily – be excluded? By testing myself and my intentions, I am broadening my witness, I hope, and am allowing the light that Jesus has shone into my life to shine ever more brightly in my sphere of influence.
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Thoughts? What ways have you found to be intentional in different areas of your life?
Journeying with you,
Jessica