In the dark, wee small hours of the morning as I kneeled praying, I began to see the futility of people seeking the approval of the world, peers, friends & even family, in the form of a “like,” a “heart,”a “share” or “comment,” when sharing devotions, prayers, funny antidotes, current events or even unfortunately inappropriate depictions that pull on the emotions of people we say we care about, whom less we forget are loved by GOD, to incite hatred, prejudice & negative bias in the world’s favor.

We may begin with the initial intention of influencing people for good, by posting for example; a prayer, and become dissatisfied to see no heavy traffic by way of positive feedback; yet rather than continue to be “salt & light” we return to the public’s more favorable posts, that offer nothing beneficial to the outcome of society nor more importantly the spiritual outcome of a person’s soul.

Worse we forward & share with no regard for GOD’S approval, as if we’ve forgotten HE not only sees all & knows all, HE can read what we are sharing & posting, even to the intent & thought of a heart before it’s formed in doing so.

I too had been subject to a similar trap of “people pleasing” recently, by taking personal the total disregard of my efforts. Yet when I kneeled before GOD sincerely, albeit tearfully pontificating about the hurtful condition of my heart, the lack of feedback, the insensitivity & nonexistence of appreciation from HIS people; HE, in HIS usual insightful, heart-stirring, soul-searching, truth-revealing way replied to my heart; “What’s more important, you hearing from them, or them hearing from ME?” I was cut to the quick, yet lovingly convicted by our HEAVENLY FATHER.

What we share, give, pray, post & write has less to do with us and everything to do with how we influence people on behalf of GOD. As I continued to pray HE showed it to me this way:

A man planting seeds, does so with the hopeful expectation of reaping a profitable harvest. As a few days pass & he sees no progress, he doesn’t give up nor remain stagnant. He continues to nurture the ground by watering, & pruning, with the intent of reducing the extent of negative outer elements interfering with the anticipated growth.

So too are we as followers & disciples of CHRIST, to continue to sow into the fertile hearts of HIS children those things necessary for the growth, spiritual development and ultimately the salvation of each individual who follows us; by way of social media, in our work place, through comradery with our friends & more importantly in our families. Especially our children, with whom we have the greatest influence by our example, rather than with our words.

But we should also be painstakingly aware, that although GOD is patient, merciful & long-suffering, HE too neither remains stagnant nor excuses the behavior of seasoned, mature men and women of CHRIST, who professing to be Believers, yet with slothful obedience, disobedience & lack of adherence to HIS Word, possess an attitudinal air of Russian Roulette, not only with their own souls but those who regard us.

HE lovingly implores us to remember & regard the seeds we sow; especially with respect to those who’ve not yet answered HIS call to repentance & acceptance of HIS Son as their SAVIOR, nor taken their place in the body of Believers as HIS children.

“GOD overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now HE commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to HIM. Acts 17:30 (NLT)

FATHER GOD may we with reverential AWE remember what we are; mere dust, who breathe because YOU’VE deemed graciously to grant us breath, from the very nostrils of YOU our GOD, into vessels, YOU’VE fitted for noble use in THY service, & more importantly to remember whose we are; children of THE MOST HIGH GOD impregnated with Anointed SEED in the form of your WORD by the acceptance of YOUR SON; to rightly divide TRUTH & to sow HIS HALLOWED SEED into the fertile ground of YOUR children’s hearts that they too might hear, read and accept the GOSPEL, from our most humble efforts & Believe unto SALVATION. May we also with reverent Awe remember that every seed sown whether YOUR incorruptible WORD or the corruptible dim-witted view of this collapsing world, will reap a harvest of consequences of our own making, either for our good or our detriment; for YOU our SOVEREIGN GOD are not mocked & would that no man deceive himself; “for whatsoever a man sows he will reap” (Galatians 6:7).

Grant us therefore most MERCIFUL GOD THY Grace & Forgiveness for all our damaging seeds carelessly sown into the impressionable soil of your children’s hearts, that we may repent & redeem all we’ve wrongly influenced, with those things, words & actions that are pleasing in THY sight. I humbly ask these things ABBA FATHER for our sake & pray in JESUS NAME, AMEN!