I’ve Fallen Again! A Declare Experience…
Marina Bromley

 

I walked around The Declare Conference for two days, all hugs and smiles, and didn’t snap a single photo of the dear online friends; meeting some of them face to face for the first time. It was reminiscent of a multi-generational homecoming or church picnic, but indoors. Without bugs. Or kids. Or family.

It took a while for me (a photographer by nature) to get the reality of what I was missing… so the last night I snapped a few selfies with friends, asked others to take photos with me, and gladly smiled in other’s photos; all of us grasping hold of what we had missed for the 2 days prior.

It didn’t occur to me at first. SO subtle – as Satan tempts us back into our sinful ways! As cries of “tag me in the photo” were voiced, I had a deja vu of where I was headed.

To NOT post them would be wrong, right? I HAD to share these photos, obligated to the others in the pictures, capturing their memories on my camera too.

And sharing photos on social media was not wrong in and of itself; rather it was my attitude about sharing them. Allowing my imagination to bloom out of control, thinking more of what others might think, than what anyone really would be thinking.

I felt myself slip into the addiction of approval and social media acceptance that I had fought so hard to stay away from. BOOM! There I was, back on my knees and asking for my heart to be changed. I thought of Ephesians 5:15-17  (NLT)  So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”  I wasn’t making the most of every opportunity… and I wasn’t being wise. I was allowing my emotions to control my mind, and acting thoughtlessly. Again.

When I’d first read the book Love Idol, I was floored at recognizing what I was worshiping. Facebook had become my god, and I went there to find my satisfaction.  The many moves I’d made in my life had motivated me to utilize social media to take the place of phone calls and written letters, and in the process I’d withdrawn from the relationships I’d worked hard to nurture face to face in the past. I falsely believed that my comments, “likes,” and opinions were valued  – and more importantly – that they defined me. Other’s “likes” became my drug, proof that my friends approved; that they liked me, and the things I did.

Last Spring Jennifer’s words gave me God’s truth in full light of the darkness in my own life. I had to change my bad habits, and trust again in His pre-approving, perfect love.

(You can read all about THAT season here and a follow up post here…)

But isn’t God good?

JUST as I was dusting myself off from re-shedding my OLD love idol, conversations came up with others at church who were just starting to lay down their FIRST love idols. God gave me a support group.

Although I’m fairly sure I’ll have other seasons of life where I need to give up this idol again (or give up other ones), He has provided, and will provide, accountability and friends to root me on. We will need to be authentic, and real, but we can remind each other how He wants us to rest, and GROW, in the beauty of His perfect love and preapproval.

I’m Marina, and I’m preapproved.

Marina Bromley is a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, moving about the country with her husband Mark. She prays for unreached people groups and those that are engaging them, and does words and pictures at MarinaBromley.com. The former inspirational writer for Connections Magazine of SW Missouri is launching 2 online ministries this fall, one for wives of workaholics and one to encourage, equip, and inspire the body of Christ to do Missionary Care well. In her day job, she is a VA, social media coordinator, and photographer for a few clients including DaySpring co-founder Roy Lessin’s blog, Meet Me in the Meadow. In her free time, she speaks encouragement into the lives of women missionaries (past, current and future), tries to listen a lot, and loves on her 3 kids, their spouses, and 6 grandkids.

 

THE LOVE IDOL MOVEMENT

Click here to find out more about the Love Idol movement.

Click here to purchase the book that inspired the movement.

Click here to join us on Facebook as we lay down our Love Idols and declare our #preapproved status in Christ.

THE PRINTABLES

Click here to print the black and white preapproved cutouts.
Place these where ever your Love Idols have lurked!

A pink PreApproved printable: to frame, to put on your refrigerator, to give to a friend.
Click here to print. My gift to you, brave soul!