I’m a part of a few engagement pods on Instagram compiled of Christian ‘influencers’ helping one another reach more people to spread the Word.
A couple of months ago, I was approached by a group of girls on Instagram who asked to collaborate on a blog post championing ‘influencers’ with Christ-centred blogs.
I have recorded a few podcasts with other Christian bloggers or speakers, where I have been referred to as an ‘influencer.’
In the last few months, I have been called an ‘influencer’ more times than I would like to admit. You see, I have never really liked the word. It makes me feel weird.
Why? Because the first thing I think of is Kylie Jenner trying to sell me some lip kit thing that I really don’t care about.
And on top of that, people getting paid an unnecessarily large figure for posting a selfie. I mean seriously, most of us wouldn’t even get half that much in a week’s worth of pay.
We have celebrities and social media sensations, all the way to YouTube stars and those C-grade celebs who get recycled through ‘reality’ TV shows because they were the one that the Bachelor didn’t pick. Need I say more?
They’re no one and then all of a sudden, someone. Apparently. They’re a person whose voice doesn’t really get heard, and then overnight, after they gain a few thousand followers, their opinion is now validated. Why? Because it’s given a platform.
With this negative concept of ‘influencers’ already engraved in my head, I couldn’t help but think, well then, I don’t want to be one.
But here’s what I have realised: we are all influencers.
If you have social media of any kind – even just access to the Internet, you have influence. If you have a following, you have influence, whether that’s 10 people or 10,000.
You have the opportunity and more importantly, the choice, to use that influence in a positive way.
I wrote down a list of goals for my blog at the end of last year that I wanted to achieve in 2018. Here are a few of them:
- Reach 1,000 followers on Instagram.
- Reach 500 Page Likes on Facebook.
- Double my email subscribers list.
But here’s the thing: I’m not collecting a following for me, I’m collecting a following for Him.
And it was because of this that I decided that these three quantified goals – these numbers that I wanted to reach – needed to be superseded by these three other, more important, goals:
- Have my complete focus on God first, rather than the number of followers.
- Be more intentional with my relationships online.
- Pray for those who are following my blog.
If I was focusing on achieving these three goals, then the others should be a byproduct of my passion, purpose and intentionality.
And can I tell you something? With a few months still left of the year, I have already ticked off two of those first set of goals.
And the last set of three? Well, they are an ongoing process that I am actively and intentionally implementing every single day.
It’s amazing how God works when you start focusing less on yourself and your own status, and more about why you do what you do and the real who behind why you do it.
Be the Moon
I heard this phrase at the Hillsong Conference as a word of advice given to Chris Tomlin. You know, the cool dude who wrote ‘How Great is Our God’ (along with a whole heap of other Christian bangers!)
Ever since, I have had these three words plastered in my mind and heart, and written on the top of my list of goals: BE THE MOON.
Essentially, Chris’ friend told him that he needed to stop trying to be the sun, and start being the moon. Don’t worry, I didn’t get it at first either. But this next part is where it gets good.
The moon shines at night because its surface reflects light off the sun.
In other words – every time we [write content, get another email subscriber, perform a worship song on stage at church or reach thousands of people with messages about faith], it’s not to glorify our own name. It’s to glorify His Name.
He is the sun (and the Son). We are the moon. We don’t shine purely because of our own doing, we shine because of Him. Yep, I know what you’re thinking – wowza. What a powerful message. Less of us. More of Him.
So I want to encourage you, as an influencer – whose name are you bringing glory to? I want to challenge you to be the moon. Always, be the moon.
Keep smiling. x
Oh my word! I just love this. So relatable and encouraging 🙂 x
Aw thank you Hannah! Glad you could relate to this! Love how Jesus shines through you xox
This is filled with so much truth! Thank you for being such a huge blessing to many people! x
You are too sweet! Thank you so much lovely. Keep shining Jesus + spreading His love! You are such an encourager. x