(This post has been in my drafts folder for months.  I finally got around to finishing my thoughts. 🙂 )

A few days ago the thought passed my mind of how many of us would be turned to pillars of salt through social media.

How many times has God said to leave something or someone alone, but you ‘innocently’ go check up on their page to see what their life is like now?  How many times has God delivered you or tried to bring you forward only for you to “look back” and just see what they’re up to?  How many times has God said, “Forget the former things.  Behold I will do a new thing.  Do you not perceive it?” only for you to remember and yearn for the former things and have your heart kind of go back to it for only a few minutes?

How many of us would be Lot’s wife and turn into a pillar of salt because we just couldn’t let it go?

“Look at their little family”
“This one found her soulmate”
“She got engaged”
“This one had a baby”
“This one could be a model”
“This one got a new job”
“This one got married”
“This one got promoted”
“This one bought a house”
“This one is traveling the world”

I would have my own salt manufacturing company by now.

This thought came to me while God has really shown me the spiritual battle is in our mind.  Yes, we can have actual affliction and circumstances, but God says we can have peace in them.  Where does it come from?

“AND DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, THAT YOU MAY PROVE WHAT IS THAT GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT WILL OF GOD.” – ROMANS 12:2

It seems so harmless, doesn’t it?  But, when you look back there can be the tiniest sting in your heart.  Sure, it’s easily brushed off, but one look turns into two and then you’re wondering, “Why not me?”.  Why wasn’t I good enough?  Why can’t I have this?

“YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOR’S WIFE; AND YOU SHALL NOT DESIRE YOUR NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE, HIS FIELD, HIS MALE SERVANT, HIS FEMALE SERVANT, HIS OX, HIS DONKEY, OR ANYTHING THAT IS YOUR NEIGHBOR’S.” – DEUTERONOMY 5:21

How relevant is this!  How many times has the quote, “God will never send you someone else’s husband” been real? How many people are committing adultery/cheating on their spouse?  How many people can’t stay committed even when dating?  How high is the divorce rate?  That doesn’t happen over night.  It’s one little thing after another until you are completely drenched in sin and rationalizing it.

It just takes one glance for you to sort of pine after what others want and without being dealt with turns to jealousy to hatred.

If you got what you prayed for…

“AND HE SAITH UNTO THEM, ARE YE SO WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING ALSO? DO YE NOT PERCEIVE, THAT WHATSOEVER THING FROM WITHOUT ENTERETH INTO THE MAN, IT CANNOT DEFILE HIM; BECAUSE IT ENTERETH NOT INTO HIS HEART, BUT INTO THE BELLY, AND GOETH OUT INTO THE DRAUGHT, PURGING ALL MEATS?

AND HE SAID, THAT WHICH COMETH OUT OF THE MAN, THAT DEFILETH THE MAN. FOR FROM WITHIN, OUT OF THE HEART OF MEN, PROCEED EVIL THOUGHTS, ADULTERIES, FORNICATIONS, MURDERS, THEFTS, COVETOUSNESS, WICKEDNESS, DECEIT, LASCIVIOUSNESS, AN EVIL EYE, BLASPHEMY, PRIDE, FOOLISHNESS: ALL THESE EVIL THINGS COME FROM WITHIN, AND DEFILE THE MAN.” – MARK 7:18-23

I know for me when I was struggling about being single it seemed EVERYONE WAS GETTING MARRIED.  EVERYONE was finding someone and I couldn’t be happy for people.  God has delivered me from that, but I GET IT.

This is how much God hates sin:
“AND IF THY RIGHT HAND OFFEND THEE, CUT IT OFF, AND CAST IT FROM THEE: FOR IT IS PROFITABLE FOR THEE THAT ONE OF THY MEMBERS SHOULD PERISH, AND NOT THAT THY WHOLE BODY SHOULD BE CAST INTO HELL.” – MATTHEW 5:30

If social media costs me my joy and peace cut if off.  If looking at other people’s happiness causes me to get jealous and yearn for what I don’t  have when God has blessed me with more than I can imagine… it’s TIME TO GO.  I have friends I can keep in touch with.  Those are the ones who really matter anyway?  Why do we want to show off things to people we may not even like or impress people we don’t really know?

I saw a quote once that said, “Unfollow anything that makes you wish you had a different life.”

A strong root is formed in darkness…

I only have Facebook and Instagram (and obviously this blog).  I don’t understand the point of twitter or snap chat.  (I’m basically an old person.)  Did you know my grandma lived to be 92 and never had social media or any idea what the internet was?  How did she live??  😛

On Instagram I do not post anything and had to unfollow all kinds of travel sites because my desire to travel is high, but you can only afford so much.  I don’t follow “people” on Instagram, but mainly bible quotes, business things, health/food accounts, or inspirational accounts.  What you feed your mind is what you are.  Scrolling through things is what edifies you or destroys you and the battle is always in the mind.  We pass images all day so be careful what you see and follow.

You have to know yourself and your limits.

If I want people to know something I tell them.  Social media has isolated us.  It’s made an image of sharing and relationships, but you can’t get to know people behind a screen.  Go to them.  Talk to people in real life.  That’s what’s wrong with this society now.  It’s so easy to share something to the masses, but so hard to go to your elderly neighbor’s house and or having a real conversation face to face with a friend over coffee and sharing your life with them.

God did not create me to go after someone else’s life.  He created me for my own journey.  This is MY walk with Him.  This is MY life.  He didn’t create me to have someone else’s otherwise He would’ve made me them.  No, I’m to stay in my lane and go where He goes and where He leads me to go.

Social media depression is a real thing.  Social media can be fun and a good tool to keep in touch with people, but I’ve learned I have to deactivate my account every now and then (like right now).  I need to step back and focus on my own life and take time away from other people’s highlight reels.

Don’t look back.  You’ll never move forward.

“REMEMBER YE NOT THE FORMER THINGS, NEITHER CONSIDER THE THINGS OF OLD.

BEHOLD, I WILL DO A NEW THING; NOW IT SHALL SPRING FORTH; SHALL YE NOT KNOW IT? I WILL EVEN MAKE A WAY IN THE WILDERNESS, AND RIVERS IN THE DESERT.” – ISAIAH 43:18-19

With all of that said… what did we do before memes?  😛