When I was on The World Race on of the biggest things God wanted me to deal with was people pleasing.
In my life, I was told many times I can’t do this because I wasn’t good enough. I can’t do this because I was fat. I can’t do this because I will never amount to anything significant. I think everyone gets the picture here of how Satan tries to get into our heads with garbage that is not from God but from the pit of hell. He is the father of lies. So why do we believe this about ourselves I think it’s because we live in a very distracted world with images of showing us who we should be in the world. I think social media is very powerful in our world today. We can take a cool picture and put the picture up on Instagram. In short, I would call this instant gratification for others to see how cool your life is compared to everyone else in the world. We can put this picture on twitter and my personal love/at times question this as Satan’s tool for discouragement is Facebook.
I love to use Facebook as a witnessing tool for others to see the light of Christ in me and through me. Facebook used for a light in a great way for Christ! Woohoo! Christ is happy with this use of Facebook! I also use Facebook to keep up with my fellow World Racers, friends, and family! Facebook stalking/creeping as some call this to see what is happening in their lives. I find out great things about them and what is God doing in their lives! When something great happens to them and it’s from God I’m happy now about 90 percent of the time! This wasn’t the case when God called me to The World Race in 2012. M-squad knows all about it.
Now to say I never want feel appreciated, loved, or being accepted by others is a lie because God created us as relational beings with one another. Why do you think God created marriage between one man and one woman? God did not want Adam to be alone so he made a suitable helpmate for Adam called woman. She was named Eve and I bet she was a beauty inside and outward because she was the first woman on earth. Amen! Read this in Genesis chapters 1-2. I do love to have friends and be accepted by others because this makes me feel safe. Wanting to feel appreciated and loved by others is okay. Yes, I said this but there’s a catch on the statement.
When Christ is at the center of everything in your life the right people will be drawn to you because Christ is there in His proper place! Number Uno is Christ period. Christ is not supposed to be second best in your life. Since I have been home from The World Race for 3 months this has been a struggle I still have to walk through daily. Sorry hate to break this to you but The World Race is not a cure all to messiness in your life. So if you expected me to be a Super Christian now I will disappoint you greatly. I’m a messy person but I am being redeemed by Christ one day at a time in the process with Him.
In the middle of February everything was going great! Life, job, moving away from my parents, and getting my life back. Great! So God put something on my heart to move forward with at Project Searchlight in January and I’m moving forward with this because The Lord wants me to do this for His glory. More to come in a later blog. God put something on my heart to show some M-squad love to a person from my squad and get everyone involved in this project. One day before the Southeast was hit with Snowstorm number 2.0 of 2014 I sent out my package to this person. I spent several hours doing this for the person. Well since the snowstorm was major for the southeast everything was delayed. Including the mail no surprise there. So, I am doing things for what God has put on my heart so someone asked me, “How many snapchat followers do you have now?” I said I have almost 50 and this number has grown by 8 in four days! It’s all for Jesus! The person said that’s right. So, I am working on ministry stuff and looking on the Facebook while I am doing this and I text this person about the package. The response was I haven’t gotten it yet but I am looking forward to getting this from you! I saw things on the Facebook and then things started creeping into my head about this project I did from the heart for this person. Satan was like look at you, the package is lost, all this time you think they are looking forward to this and look a lost package. You failed Blake big time! Another effort gone wrong. A big mess! After this I said to the person I’m so sorry and I feel really bad. The person said it’s okay this will all work out. The person was being calm and graceful but Kara didn’t hear me in NC from Texas me saying a couple of words stronger than shoot when this happened. I was letting the situation take over me instead of Christ handling the situation. This gets more down the slope of people pleasing before this goes up again. This effects those around you and not just you.
I saw post on Facebook while I was preparing for a Sermon Short on Snapchat about ministry which was awesome but then I started hearing Satan’s voice again look at you Blake at the beginning and no one really supports you but look over here. This person is getting great support and you can’t even get anyone to vouch for you now. Why even go for this calling from The Lord yeah right. What a joke! I went on with the sermon short on snapchat and I thought this sermon short was great! Funny joke line and a great verse! I got no encouragement on this one from anyone and during the week I had no more snapchat viewer increase. I wanted more viewers on snapchat because of the growth I saw God do the previous week for me. See what I did I started to put me as number Uno instead of Christ. Uh Oh! Wrong move!
I messaged on Facebook someone and said I’m quitting this project. The person said why? Then I said I’m just joking and all! No response. Then I asked if they were mad at me and she said no but I am starting to think that you want people to affirm you instead of Christ right now. We can talk about this later if you want to. I knew I was being convicted by The Lord at this point and I was wrong.
I talked to her for about 30 minutes and she says BLAKE WHO CARES!! what others think including me! I’m just listening because I knew she was speaking the truth. Last year in Nicaragua when they talked to me about not feeling loved I tried to argue back and she said Blake, I can stop talking right now if you want me to? I’m like ugh okay keep going. This time a year later, yes I did mess up in this area but at least I’m aware of situation, asking for forgiveness and willing to change. Plus, I handle constructive feedback way better than I did at the beginning of The World Race. This is growth in becoming more like Christ. I may be messy but God can use you in the mess, clean you up, and make you more like Jesus in His image. Then she says Blake if you have to take a break from ministry take a break. At the end, she tells me Blake when we get off I want you to get close to Christ right now to see what he says about you and all. Okay, I love you.
So, I went on an 11 day social media fast which tonight is the last night of the fast. God has taught me many things. This fast wasn’t easy but it was needed to grow more in Christ. There’s a verse God showed to me about the super-preacher Paul in Galatians 1:10. This verse says in short if I am trying to win people’s approval I shouldn’t be a servant of Christ. If I am or anyone else not willing to go through times where you may not be like for what your doing for Christ STOP right now and walk away! Don’t even quote the Bible verses on Fakebook if you can’t live it out for Christ ONLY!
Everyone can give the thumbs down at you but if willing to stand up for Christ at all cost in life, Christ will give you a thumbs up!! That’s all that matters the thumbs up from a party of one and His name is Jesus!
I welcome any comments, constructive feedback, or opinions thanks and God Bless!
