"Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven." Matthew 6:1 (NLT)

I once saw a photo online of an elderly woman in a group of young people who all had their phones up, trying to record whatever was in front of them. The woman was the only one who wasn’t trying to capture the moment on her phone. In fact, she had the most serene look on her face and was smiling, as if she were truly relishing the moment.                                                                                                   

You can't be in the moment while you’re trying to capture the moment.

Here’s an example: You’ll never see a photo of me during my quiet time. Why? If I’m trying to get a great picture for Instagram, my time with God won’t be real. I wouldn’t have the right motivations. You need to spend time with God every day, but that time should be between you and him.

Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:1 NLT). In other words, if you take the good you’ve done and brag about it online just so other people will give you recognition, then that's all the reward you’re going to get.

Social media makes it really tempting to show off. But when you show off, it builds barriers. It doesn't build fellowship. It doesn't draw you closer to anybody. 

If you want to draw closer to people, then do the opposite: Share the problems Jesus is helping you through. Be real! Give people a look at your bloopers and not just your highlight reel. They will be encouraged to ask God to help them with their problems too.

“Humble yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time” (1 Peter 5:6 GNT).

Don’t worry when others use social media to promote themselves. If you’re a child of God, then he will promote you at the right time. When you stop pretending to be somebody you’re not, you’ll be at peace just being who God made you to be, right where he meant for you to be.

Then you can really enjoy the moment.