How to Know if Social Media is an Idol

In this episode, Kiana and Beks discuss social media. Something that isn't inherently bad, or a "sin" to use, but can easily become an idol. In our culture, where social media is "god", how do we as believers engage with it? Are we called to not use it? Or, is there a way we can engage with healthy boundaries? Guided by the Holy Spirit, Kiana and Beks lean into the conversation.

Links:

Study Bible

Opal App

The Brick

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:04

Hi, welcome to the Fragrance Podcast. My name's Kiana Maxson, and I'm the founder of Fragrance, a nonprofit ministry that creates safe spaces for women to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Whether it's a retreat, a fun monthly event like our workout and worship event called Morning Routine, a Bible study, inner healing and deliverance prayer, or now this podcast, we seek to create spaces where women can know the love of the Father, step into deeper intimacy with Jesus, and be filled by his Holy Spirit. And this season on the Fragrance Podcast, we are going to be talking about the topic of how to live as exiles in an empire. How do we, as citizens of the Kingdom of God, live in an empire, in a culture that is in direct opposition to the kingdom of God? And today I have my good friend Bex Russo on to talk about the topic of social media and how we handle it as believers. As someone who barely goes on it and has someone running their social media, and as someone like Bex who has Soul Fox Social, her social media company. How do we handle this as believers? How do we invite the Holy Spirit into it? How do we deal with comparison and all the things? It was such a fun day, and I can't wait for you to watch and listen. Okay, Bex! I'm so happy to have you here. For those listening, Bex is one of my very best friends in the world, and I am just I admire her in so many ways. And we are gonna talk today about social media. I met Bex at church, and I feel like we became instant friends. Yeah. Like I feel like I always wanted to be your friend. I'm like, I hope she thinks I'm cool. I literally thought you were so cool. And then we met, and I was like the friendship crushed. It was, it was, and then it turned into like a deep true love. Yeah. Aww. Love you. I love you. Well, I'm so excited to have you on today. Oh, I feel honored. Well, Bex is social media extraordinaire. She actually, I feel like there's a million topics I could talk to you about, so I'll have you back. But today we're going to be talking about the topic of social media as this season one of the fragrance podcast is how to live as exiles in an empire. How do we live as citizens of the kingdom of God in an empire? America, our world today, our culture that is in direct opposition to the kingdom of God. And social media is such a big topic because it's something that you either love, hate, both. Like it is, people have strong feelings, people don't care at all. It's like, but all of us encounter it. Yeah. Whether it's for your personal life, your business. Yep. And Bex, you own and run Soul Fox. Would you tell us a little bit about what you do and how that all works? Yes. Soul Fox is my social media management agency. I do content creation for brands and events. And I yeah, I work on my computer, my iPhone, I work with different clients, monthly retainer clients, and then like one off like for events, just shooting content, which is a huge thing now. Like everybody wants iPhone content versus like the high-end. I mean, they want both, really. But like iPhone creators are like now at like every event, every like business owner and every like even Bachelorette's weddings, they all want the iPhone content. So that's been a huge part of my business that has recently opened up. Yeah. Like being behind the scenes on a lot of like high-end production, but with my iPhone. And it's crazy how like on social media the iPhone content is the one that performs the best. Because that's what people want to see. Like it's a little bit more of like the you know, YouTube is like a much more of the high production, but yes, like Instagram, TikTok is like they want to see iPhone, they want to see vertical, yeah. And so that's been like a big part of my business recently that I've been pursuing and in and like yeah, pursuit of. That's so interesting. Yeah, because that yeah, that is something that even like literally five years ago didn't exist. Didn't exist. Exactly. Wow, yeah. Well, tell us a little bit, how did you start Toll Fox? So it was actually mine and my sister's business together. So we it was more so we did much more like marketing in the sense of online courses, and we had a subscription for business owners so that they could like get in and have content ideas for their business. So then we like, I mean, it grew like a lot. We had like five employees, and yeah, we had like a whole little business company. Wild. And then uh my sister like wanted to step away and go join her husband and his business, also entrepreneur. And so she was like, What do you want to do? Like, do you want to take it? Like, do you want to like should we just sell it? And um, I was like, I want to take it over. And that was a huge, I mean, that season of life, I was back and forth, back and forth, but I just felt the Lord like I'm just giving you an opportunity. I'm gonna be with you either way. But if you want to take this, like I'm gonna be with you. And that's been since 20, I think 2023. Okay, like the end of 2023 into 2024, I like fully took it over. Oh my gosh. And then I've like changed the format and the way that like I I moved away from like the subscription and the online course kind of, and then I do like the one-on-one clients and social media management. So I'm on social media all the time, yeah. Which is why I'm like you and I have had like personal conversations about this topic and like how do we handle it? Yeah, because I personally, so my kind of background with social media is I obviously with fragrance and with my music career, I have to have it, which is I know a lot of people are in that situation. For me, it is not good for my mental health, yeah. Like when I even so I used to, when I had my band with Kalina, I would, we had ours, Kalina and Kiana, and then I had my personal one that it was just for like me, like my friends, whatever. And there wasn't pressure. It wasn't pressure, but it's still like I just found that I would get in such a bad headspace. Like, and this is a personal thing, but I know a lot of people struggle with this too, where I would be having a great day, go on it, see something, whether it's friends hanging out without me or some influencer that seems perfect, and like, well, my life doesn't look like that. Yeah, and I would just start to spiral. And my husband, this is where it got to me, where my husband told me he's like, I can always tell days where I come home from work and you've been on social media and you haven't been on social media. I have chills actually. It's like that's how much it affects me. That's how much it affects me. Yeah, and I know not everybody's like that, yeah. But for me personally, and so God and I have had a ton of conversations about it. I would take breaks from it. Yeah, and I went to when there was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Kentucky, um, maybe a couple years ago. Remember that? 16 day outpouring. Yeah. So I went to a conference that a good friend of mine, Todd Proctor, he kind of held there after for some pastors, to kind of just like interview the leaders of the outpouring and like how, like, how did you guys foster such a big move of the Holy Spirit? So I went to that conference and there was this guy they called him the grand the grandfather of the outpouring because the outpouring was kind of like talked about on social media, it's like very Gen Z-led, but there were older, wiser people behind empowering the Gen Z leaders to do it and giving their wisdom, which I really love. So I remember I had never met anyone that was so dripping with the Holy Spirit, like when he talked about the move of God and his own life or whatever, so he led us all in this prayer time where it was like there's probably 50 pastors in this room all on our knees weeping for just like the brokenness of the world. And one of the things we were doing was praying and like repenting, and like I literally found myself like praying over like the idols in our culture and social media being one of them, yeah. And I was just like weeping over like how much destruction it has had, and like, Lord, how do we handle this thing? And then afterwards, this guy was talking and I'm journaling, and out of the blue, because one of the things, one of the other idols that I was repenting of for our culture is alcohol, yeah, and I don't drink at all. Like I have we'll talk about that in another episode, yeah, but um, it's such an idol in our culture, and I cut it out completely. And I had just preached on idolatry a few weeks prior. So I'm at this like outpouring conference and I'm weeping over these idols, and then I'm journaling later, and God says to me loud and clear, He says, You talk about alcohol in the same way you talk about social media, and yet you still bow to this God. Wow, and I was like, Oh, and then he said, Kill it, cut it out.

unknown 8:29

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 8:30

So it took me five days because it had such a grip, and I was like, and then Ben was like, Well, why are all the reasons you don't want it? And at this point, Kalina had quit our band, we were on pause with our music career, so it was more my personal one. Yeah, and it's they were like, I didn't need to, I didn't need it, I didn't need it, and God was like, Cut it out. And it took me five days, and I was talking with Ben about it, and he was like, Well, what are the reasons that you are having a hard time letting go? And when I said them out loud, it was they were stupid. It was, well, how will people know what I'm up to? Yeah, how will I remain significant? Yeah, like how will relevant all those things, and so I ended up totally cutting it out. Then when I picked up music again and needed to do that, and then God began to do fragrance, I really wrestled. I'm like, God, you told me to let touch social media. Yeah, but as I prayed about it, I was literally at a worship night praying about it, saying, God, it's such an idol for me. What do I do? My best friend Sarah leans over and she goes, Kiana, God was just telling me um, I'm gonna run your social media. Wow, and we're not good, like we're not gonna bow to this God, but we're just gonna share and God's gonna promote. Wow. And so that's where I'm at with social media. It's like I don't even touch mine. Yeah. So you are in the depths of it, right? You have a personal one, you have your work one. Yeah. How do you find balance? Okay, well, first of all, I want to just touch on everything you just said because I feel like when I first met you, I mean, when you talk about people oozing the Holy Spirit, like that's you. Like, I want you to know that. Like, I just like feel the Holy Spirit's presence. Wow. When I first met you, every time I see you, and when you when I first met you, like it was you were this isn't like a big thing that you're like, oh, I don't drink, I don't have social media, but I like came to realize that about you, and I'm like, wow, this girl doesn't just talk the talk, like she's walking the walk, and that's something that so so many people, especially in the world, but in the Christian realm, like just don't want to give those things up. And I just like so deeply admired that, and that's again like you're walking that out, and it's not something that you're very you're not loud and vocal. It's like I came to know that just from conversation, so I just admire that deeply, like just that sacrifice and surrender to be like, you know what? I'm not above, like I can't handle it. I'm not above this, you know what I mean? I think with social media, like a lot of people want to think like, oh, like it's not affecting me, right? You know, right, and so I love that you were just like fully surrendered. Then Sarah met you in that place, like that's just oh my god, I I can't handle it. Yeah, that's exactly like I can't do it. Yeah, and that's like humility to be able to recognize that and not be above it. But in the sense of like boundaries and being on it every day, like it definitely is something where you again you just can't be above the fact that it can consume you and that comparison will come in in any way. But specifically for my business, something I tell all of my clients is do not follow people in your niche or your business. Because that's where you'll instantly compare. Like that's that's cool. Yeah, yeah. I tell I tell all of my clients that I'm like, you do Pilates, I don't want you following any other Pilates studio.

SPEAKER_03 11:48

Whoa.

SPEAKER_01 11:49

Like really, if you're bit like if you're like I'm like, don't really follow anybody, like keep it so you can just post and like maybe you have one person you follow. So I don't know if you ever see accounts that's like following one. Like yeah, that's that's like intentional. And I think that is what for my again, for my social media account, it's so fox social. Like I have very I follow, I definitely have people that I follow, but very few that are in doing the same thing as me because I don't want to like I'm I'm doing my own thing and I don't want to look at what everybody else is doing. Yeah, that's such a good boundary. Somebody that's doing some again, I can follow Ploty City, I can follow whatever, all of those, but social media, like that's just not even for you. Music, like yes, well that because that's huge for me. Like I have, you know, as I shared on the last episode, like I've been on a journey with music, and that is a huge one for me where I see other artists blowing up or things happening, I will spiral. And it's not even like them, like it's not personal to them, it's the idea of it. Like, and it's like, oh, they got this through social media. Like, what are they doing? I'm not doing it. Am I doing enough? And it creates this like urgency, urgency and this angst. I'm realizing like I feel like this year is finally able to put a name to it, it's angst that it creates in me of like, oh my god, you're not moving fast enough, or I'm not doing enough. And it's like, no, their journey's different than mine. Yes, but I think that that's so wise, and it's not out of competition, no, it's purely for your client's own like mental safety. Like, you need to stay in your lane. God's giving you a very specific call to post things that are very specific to you, yeah, and comparison. You cannot let comparison bully around your decisions, yeah. Exactly, yeah, exactly. And it even helps like not getting into you know, it's all like culture now, it's like, oh, copying, like what ideas are original now? I mean, everything's been done, but even in that, like just being able to like be in your own lane and create the things that the Lord wants you to create and just staying there, and that's been that's just been a huge boundary, even just in comparison alone that has helped me and helped my clients so much in staying like in their own lane. That's so not comparing for their specific business or niche. Yes, wow, that's so good. Yeah, my gosh. Yeah, and so for you, do you have specific work hours? Like, how do you because your work is your phone? I know in some money because I'll see my friends like send me reels or or DMs, and it's just like because it probably shows that I'm active, even when I'm on like even when I'm on like clients' accounts, I'm not really sure how that works if it's still like, oh well, you're on Instagram, so it's like showing that I'm active, but I always tell my friends like these are not I'm not engaging on social media during this time, even though it probably shows that like I'm active. Yes, which is something new that Instagram has done, which is like honestly like annoying. I don't like that, I know it's like active now. Yeah, and um, but that's yeah, I have very specific times. I'll set a timer, and I'm like, okay, for the next 30 minutes, I'm gonna research ideas for my clients, I'm gonna save inspiration, send things to them. And I always just time block, like that's the biggest thing in setting timers, but the absolute biggest game changer has been like create getting a device like the brick, or like something like Opal, which is an app. Okay, which these are like very good boundaries to have that you can like literally block your social app. So is Opal an app that helps you? Opal is an app that blocks, so it's it's free and it's like you download it and it blocks social apps and sets timers for you. And a brick, I actually have it with me. Oh my gosh, it's a little device. Okay, it's magnetic, so I put it on my fridge and you tap your phone, you take your phone and tap it, and you select whatever app. So a lot of times I'll do my messages too. Oh my god. So when I'm working, I'm not distracted with text messages. And it just blocks everything. Yes. And and the only way to unlock it is to tap it to it again. So sometimes I'll put it in my car, I'll put it somewhere far away. Yeah. Like, so I'm not, yeah, you know, I'm gonna go to my car and unlock it. Right. So I do it at night, I do it every night from like 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Oh my god. I usually start work at like 8 a.m. Okay. And so I have like I just have to be on social media. That's it's like, you know. So I'm like, I'm And then it's like if you want to break it, you have to do like the walk of shame to the fridge. No, exactly. And I'm like, I'm not doing that. Like with the brick and even opal and these, like, very it's kind of like you like, you're kind of just admitting you have an addiction. Oh yeah, like I have a problem. I have a problem, which again, don't be above that. Like that is okay. Like sometimes you just don't have the self-control to sit on the couch and not scroll TikToks. Well, okay, and I think that this is a this is actually a good conversation side trail because there is a responsibility we have as believers to invite the Holy Spirit in. The fruit of the spirit is self-control. So it is all the other things, but it's self-control. However, that doesn't happen by magic. Yeah. You have to partner with the Holy Spirit. So there are just like Jesus says, like, if your right arm causes you to stop, cut it off. Literally. He doesn't say, like, oh good luck with that. Ask me for help. Like, yes.

SPEAKER_00 17:14

Put up the guards.

SPEAKER_01 17:15

But you need to put up. So if like you need the brick, you need and also brick is not a sponsor of this podcast. We just like I just it's that great. I need one. One of my friends was like, that seems unnecessary. And I was like, well, maybe it is for you. Like maybe you don't have like the problem with just like, oh, I have five minutes. Let me check Instagram, let me check TikTok. But if you do, which I'm sure like everybody does, you sit in the car, you go on your phone. Like, this stops you from that. Yes, just do it. It seems extreme because it does cost money. Again, Opal is the free version, but right, like it does cost money, it is an investment, but I'm telling you, it has changed everything for me. Well, and the things that we invest in, it's like Ben and I ask ourselves all the time with things that are that cost. Yeah. The question isn't can I afford it? The question is can I afford not to? Yeah. So, like, what's the greater cost? Yes, my mental health, my time, yes, like, or just like, hey, this one-time expense that's gonna save me. No, I can't even tell you. Like this past week, I didn't block my apps at night because I was just like, oh, I want to have I call it my little social media sweet treat. Yeah, because mine is chocolate, mine is social media, because there's again, I'm on social media all the time, and it's not like mindless scrolling, it's like work and I'm editing things and I'm looking for ideas. So when I want a little social media sweet treat, I'm like, oh, let me not black my block my apps tonight. Two, three hours later. I know. Like that's how it goes. And then all of a sudden TikTok's like, you've been scrolling for long. Like you got me out. Wait, TikTok does that. It does that. Yeah, it will do that. No, they're like, Are you okay? That's like it's like are you still there? Like, yeah, I did it mostly. Yeah, I'm I'm not in a group. I'm deep in Luke and Morelai's uh relationship drama, exactly. And so it's like just remembering, I think the biggest thing I love Hope Ben's like, I recognize the feelings, remember those feelings, it's not worth it. Yes, like okay, I want a little time to like decompress, or of course, scrolling on social media is something that we all do, and there's time for that, but not making it this default, yeah, not making it this like crutch. It feels this is another point I want to bring up to this. Even I was kind of explaining to my friend, like gluttony is just consuming so much. You know, a lot of times we tie it to food, but it's really just the overconsumption of anything. Yes. And I'm like, we get so gluttonous with social media because especially when you're not giving out to the platform or giving anything in a sense, you're not giving education, you're not creating content to inspire, or to just give out and you're just consuming, like that gluttonous feeling is the way it leaves you. Yeah, like, oh, I just consume so much without giving anything out, like it makes you just feel icky, yeah. And remembering that feeling, like, like just snaps you back at like remember that, and again, do the things that are maybe extreme, like yeah, the two of it's worth it, and that's the thing I think is a lot of us, if you're listening, like need to just put this before the Lord, yeah, because there's some people like you, and thankfully I have Sarah to run my social, but some people don't, and and and that's what I'm doing for people, yes. So there are some people where you're like, you have to be on it to make your living, and I think, and I do think as a side note, the answer as Christians is not to just avoid, right? Like, but to how do you do this well? Yeah, however, I do think some of us, if you were to sit down with the Lord, spend 30 minutes an hour, and really ask him and put your relationship with social media on the altar, yeah, and say, Lord, is this something I actually need in my life? Or is this something that I have an unhealthy attachment to? Or is this something that like you're asking me to give up and I'm just making excuses? Exactly. Because I think that's what is so like it's so easy to justify idolatry. Yeah. Oh, I need it because of this, or how well I know my friends are up to. Let me tell you, I know what my friends are up to because I say, send pics. And it's so much more special when friends are on vacation. Yeah. And I just get like, like my best friend Kelly is was in Northern Ireland, and I'm like, send pics. She sent me all these pics of her and her family that might not get on social media, and like I get to see those. Or like when I run into someone I haven't seen in a while, I'm like, I genuinely have no idea what you've been up to. I know. Please fill me in on your life. And it makes our conversations so much more rich. Yeah. So instead of like, oh, I saw your vacation look that it's crazy how much that is in conversation now. Oh my gosh, I saw you've been doing this. I saw, and then we end up not even conversing about it. Yeah. You just like assume things from what you've seen. It's like, oh, I saw you went on this trip. Period. Like then you don't like lost that touch of connection with people because of social media. And that's even something that even though you're not on it, like even though us who are and are constantly seeing everybody, we should like don't ever lose. Yeah. It's like tell me, I want to know. I saw, but I want to hear more about it. It's so easy to just be like, yeah, it's like a cop-out of like, oh, I don't really need to connect because I saw it. And like it's it's like a fake connection. Yes. It is it is literally a counterfeit connection. Yes. And it's just there's no depth, there's no, and then there's no there's so many like you're we Ben and I were just talking about this actually. It's so funny because we were on a walk at the park and there was this sweet old lady and she just started like talking to us, like asking what we were up to. And at first I was kind of like obsessed because I mean the way she was asking was kind of funny, but she just genuinely wanted conversation. Yeah, and we were talking about how the older generation will just strike a conversation in line at the grocery store. Yeah, our generation on our phones whenever we have a second, we pull it out. And I'm not even on social, and I do that with text everything, yes, or I'll just find myself look at my photo album. Yeah, stupid, yeah, and yeah, and so I try to make it a discipline of like when I'm in line at the grocery store, when I'm somewhere putting my phone away and then asking Holy Spirit, is there anyone you're highlighting? Like, I can't say how many people he's given me words for that like received physical healing or just like some random woman will be like, hey, tell her that I see her. Yeah, and we're in line and she starts crying. And again, that's nothing new, that's not too uncorn. That's saying, like, when we make this space, God has so much, he will take up whatever space we give him. And when we make this space, he uses it, yeah. And it's like if we can have the brick to give us boundaries, like I love that you do. And I do it every time I leave the house. Like I was out the other day, we were at the beach, I was like, Oh, I want to post this on like my it's at home. Yeah, I can't go on the app, like I have nothing, and then you leave, and I like will go to my family's and have it off. Like, they're you just don't have the option, and it helps. I mean, it just helps so much. Yeah, but I like the one. I think what's awesome is we really are you thinking with Gen Z and just where we're heading in 2026, like we really are entering into a more analog, like I think we're all kind of like the overstimulation, like everybody's recognizing how much our phones are impacting us, and everybody's wanting to get back to that. Like, okay, let's like let me get a notebook instead of my notes. I just did that. Okay, yeah. I'm so tired of looking at my notebook. I literally have a notebook for my to-do list now that my brain needs a list. Yes, yeah. And I just got this cutest little notebook. That's it. Make it cute, make it cute, make it fun, make it accessible, have it with you. And I think that that is really cool with like just the direction that it's going. People are naturally creating more of that. Like a lot of people I know have the brain, a lot of people are like wanting to become again more analog, yeah, and especially with Gen Z, a lot of people are getting political. Like everybody, like we're just in culture now, recognizing like wow, yeah. I mean, we were like baby, it was like little kids having access to all of this stuff, and nobody knew how to manage it. And yeah, and so it's like we're now having effects of that, and everybody's like, okay. But again, for somebody like me, who again with my business, I've been so surrendered literally every day praying over it. I'm like, God, if this is not what you have when we take it. Like, I'm not I'm I want whatever he wants, yeah, for me and for my business, and I just keep feeling his hand on it, and like the grace to continue in social media in this pursuit, yeah. And again, the thing is that like creating those boundaries and all of those things that just helped so much. Well, and that is it because I think that we think we're such um our culture is so like entitled to our rights, our freedoms, our everything. And it's like sure, you can have God will give you the freedom to do whatever the heck you want with social media, with whatever. But the the upside down kind of deal with the kingdom of God is like freedom in the world means actually means enslavement. So you can have the freedom to do social media, whatever you want, all this stuff. But it's like if you're not living like you are constantly surrendered, constantly offering, you actually experience more freedom. Like when I actually had to kill social media, right? It felt like, oh no, I'm giving this thing up for God, or I'm giving this thing up, or oh my gosh. It doesn't feel like freedom, but it's actually freedom because the other way was enslavement. When I could do whatever I want with it, I was enslaved. And now I feel so free. Like it is so freeing, and that's why I just love the way you live because I've noticed that about your life. You're so boundried, and someone would think like it's just a boundary, like loosen up. No, you're a boundary because you're experiencing some freedom with it. Yeah, it's the opposite. It's like you have to be so boundary for the sake of freedom. And I think that's so beautiful. Yeah, that's so sweet. Yeah, and it's what's so interesting about social media too, going back to the comparison piece, is like social media tends to dehumanize in the sense of like, oh, this person's like I that's what I noticed with comparison for me. It's like it brought up this whole like comparison thing in me. I'm like, well, I it's like if they're standing in front of me, they're like, I'm not thinking that when I'm seeing perfect squares on a screen, yeah, it's like that's just so again, that's so real, and never ever think that you're above that. Yeah, recognize it, and I'm like unfollow. That's why I'm thinking like unfollow people into it. Yeah, you then like do what you need to do, like it's not that deep to me. Like, it's like it's just don't ever be above the fact that it's affecting you, yeah. And so do what you need to do. Like, I unfollow people all the time, strictly just because I'm like, oh, I'm in an unhealthy pattern right now. Like this seeing this content is not helping me, yeah. Seeing this person's life is not bringing yes, it's not creating good fruit in my life or good thoughts or like you know, and again, like you're saying, it's so different when you're with people in person, and that's where social media just really sneaks up on you. Oh my gosh, yeah, and it's so wild. So, one of the scriptures I was thinking about this week is from the heart, the mouth speaks. And so, one thing that I really love to think about is when I'm cutting something out, like if you're putting boundaries on your social media, so you're not overconsuming, so you're not like all of that. What are you adding in? Or what do you replace that time with? What are you letting into your heart so that can be the overflow and not what I saw on TikTok or just trying to become like the influencer I saw? Yeah. Or in are you asking me? Okay, yeah. What are you doing? I read. Reading is you are a huge reader. And reading is something that for my creativity, it's actually there's um a podcast I listen to, how like readers who read fiction are some of the most creative people in the world because they're constantly in their imagination. And it's something that because I'm creating so much for my clients on a daily basis, it's my refuel, like it just refuels me. And and it's I read fiction. Like, I definitely have my Christian devotional books I read or listen to, but I'm like, fiction is my like that is where I like get my creativity refilled from and filled with. Wow. And that is like something when I have a kindle, so it's so easy to take out and fill my time with that. Yeah. But it really is like any, I mean, like any whatever it is that you feel, obviously, reading your Bible, going for what working out, there's just so much our time with other than social media. Okay, this is the question. It makes me like, uh, it just for some people it is a literal stronghold. It is an actual stronghold. Yeah, exactly. And that's one thing the Lord, when I was giving that sermon I mentioned on idolatry, one of the things God said to me is, could you imagine if a generation spent as much time as they were on social media on their knees in intercessory prayer?

SPEAKER_03 30:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:07

For either the people around them or for the world. It would change everything. It would change everything. If we said, Oh, look at my screen time, four hours a week on social media, which is low for some people. Right. It's like, what if you spent four hours in intercessory prayer? And I'm saying this to myself, like, what if? Like, what if you set your timer and said, God, I'm going to replace that much time. Imagine how that would change the world. Yeah. If a million believers who switched out their time on social media with intercessory prayer. Holy welcome, Woolly. Yeah. Or in time in the word. The sad thing is, we as a culture know more about influencers and what's trendy on social media than scripture. Like, oh my gosh, we we bet our life on the Bible. We bet our life on the contents of this book, and yet we spend more time on social media than what's in there. The actual words of our creator.

SPEAKER_03 31:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:03

But then we go to social media for health advice, mental health. And that's the thing. Neuroscience is catching up to scripture.

SPEAKER_02 31:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:10

Yet we go to social media for like, okay, what's the latest health thing? Who's this? What's this person posting? When's the last time you read Philippians that says, fix your mind on the things above? Admirable, worthy of praise, or like anxiety. Oh my gosh. The antidote to anxiety Paul gives us in Philippians is thanksgiving. Says, like, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything with prayer and petition and thanksgiving. Offer your request to God. And it's like, oh, and then it says, He will grant you peace that surpasses understanding until the day of Christ Jesus. And then he goes on to say, so brothers and sisters, therefore, whatever is admirable, whatever is worthy of praise, like fix your mind on those things. It's like you go on social media, you'll see some neuroscientists saying, like, yeah, look at positive thought patterns versus negative. And it's like, and it's mind-blowing to us. And it's like, oh no, there's the breath of God telling us this. And oh, I could talk about that for hours, but it's like we like if I could say one thing is no more about Jesus than your favorite influencer. That's literally like and then you know it's it like sounds so crazy. Sounds so yes, but it is just truly where we are in society. Yes. And again, I think there's even just because I love TikTok and I love spending time on social media, there's just like invite God into it. Like, just be like, Lord, like if you want me to unfollow these people, if you like I'm constantly saying not interested to certain, like, no, I don't want to fill my mind with this. Like, just invite God into every area of your life and invite him into social media. And again, like being having that space still and and being able to invite God into it, like any other area of your life. Any other area, and that's the thing, it's like invite him into it. Sure, he might treat you like he did me and say, cut it out. Yeah, but he might also say, Hey, here's why I want you to handle this thing. Because once again, as believers, we can't just guard ourselves off from the rest of the world and never touch anything. Yeah, it's like, no, some of us might need to for your own God because God does everything when he takes something away, it is for our benefit. It is for exactly when he took social media away from me, like, and it's for my own benefit and my flourishing. Exactly. But not everyone is gonna have that. Yeah, some people he's gonna say, Yeah, go for it, but like here's what I want you to post, or yes, what you said was. Oh, and even this past week I was catching up on work and I was just praying, and I was like, God, give me inspiration, give me direction for what you want me to create for my clients. When I tell you that work was so effortless, and I created posts that perform well, I create, and it was just like it his hand was just in it, yeah, and that is like truly again, like that is just creating the balance, creating the boundaries, and be able to have him in that space. Because I think I mean so many times people are like things are earthly, things are heavenly, like things are secular, things are like no everything is heavenly, everything is spiritual. And I think specifically with social media, we tend to just separate that. Yep. So when you're in it and you work in it, you're an influencer, you're a content creator, you have your business. Invite God into every area of that. What do you want me to create? What do people need to see? Yes, what do they need to hear? Yes, yeah, because people are on it, that's the thing. Like, yeah, go where the people are, yes, like you know, and so it I mean, that's such a good point. Yeah. So for some again, somebody like me, and so many people who are content creators, full-time influencers in Fike had into that space. Just always be aware the things you are consuming are affecting you. Again, don't know more about your influencer you follow than just don't like just have like okay, I'm not gonna consume this. Let's just keep you don't need to know everything. I'm huge on pop culture. I love it. I love like, you know, these artists, but I'm like, I don't this, I don't need to know this in my things that's like I need to know everything that's going on. I need to, I need to know this drama and that drama. You know. Well, and that's one thing I love about you is you are so like you have so much joy, and like I have to show you this TikTok. Like, you love it, and that's why you have a business around it. Yeah, but you're also just so gifted and like empowered by the Holy Spirit to handle it. And I think that's why God trusts you with your business. I think that's why every time you say, God, I will give this up. If you if you want to take it, like I'll sell it, I'll do whatever. Yeah, He's like, No, I trust you because I know you're someone who spends time with like Bex, you are an intercessor. Like, Bex, you spend time in intercessory prayer. You're my friend, I'm like, I need prayer. You're like, I'm on it. Like, it's funny, you actually sent me a video the other day. You were like, it was this girl talking about how like I don't want, I don't care about my friends being cute or like having the cute closer. I need friends who pray. And we were like, that's that's us, that's us. Like, we will pray. Yeah, like I would never, if I was gonna not pray, I would never tell you I was no way exactly. Like, I'm like, no, I just want to respond if they're gonna pray. Exactly. Or like I'll wait to respond to the time to like send the voice memo or pray throughout my day or whatever it is. Yeah, no, I love that so much. Yeah, and just creating God and bringing God into that space as believers is so important. If you're gonna be in it, be in it with the Holy Spirit, yeah, be in it with the Lord and allow him into that space. Yes, and just again, I even tell friends, they're like, oh, I'm I'm taking 40 days off social media, or I'm giving up social media for three months. I'm like, but then what? But then what? Then when you do that, then you're gonna come. It's like, oh, I'm gonna fast, and then all of a sudden you eat a bunch of cinnamon when you're done fasting. Like, what is are you gonna binge it? Yes, it's like that binge, that clutch and it's like, okay, you just need to give it up. I'm like, what would it look like if we just created healthy balances? Yes, and you could create a lifestyle that's actually like cultivating an environment in your soul that can handle it. Yep, even like because I was chatting with Ben just about like the topic of alcohol, and it's like any addict can take a month off. Yeah, it's like dry January, okay, good for you, but what does your life look like February through December? Yeah, it's like great, like good job. Like, and I don't mean not to be condescending or anything like that, but it's like it's not about like abstaining longevity in the patterns of again. I think we all know social media is not going anywhere, it only is continuing to take over in vibes. So, what does it really look like to have a healthy longevity? Like, again, if you're not gonna get rid of it. Yep. And and I think a lot of people feel that pull.

SPEAKER_00 37:37

Well, what would it look like to be?

SPEAKER_01 37:39

Yeah, well, to honestly, and to that I would say if you are, if you have to question it, yes, you probably have a problem. Question it for a reason. Question it for a reason. Like it's probably coming, and then deactivate it for a year, like see what your life is like without it. Yes, and I promise you, if that is a decision God wants you to make, he will meet you in it, he will bring you richer conversations, richer like friendships, richer moments. Yeah, but if he's saying, no girl, you're good, go on, but bring the Holy Spirit because in the same way I'm even just making this connection right now. Like I always tell people, like, everywhere you stand as a believer filled with the Holy Spirit is holy ground. Like, because you are full of the present, you are now the dwelling place of God. So everywhere you walk is holy ground. You walk into your coffee shop, you walk into the DMV, you walk into your doctor's office, it is holy ground. You are carrying the presence of God with you. Same goes for if you are given permission by the Lord, He trusts you to be on social media, you are holy ground. Like, think about what you post. Like, as believers, we are salt and light. If your social media looks exactly like the rest of the world's, that's a problem. Yeah. Like, even especially as women, like the things that we post, the way we give, I think we personally, we were just chatting about this before, give too much of ourselves over to social media. Too much of our bodies, too much of our like like not everything I we were just saying, like not everything needs to be shared. Yes, like just discern that. Discernment, like, yeah, I think so many times I mean you just share when people share their lives and they are content creators, there it's like they feel they need to share so many moments of life. You don't need to, yeah, you don't need to share that picture, you don't need to share this on your story or this, you know, like just discern that because then everything comes about your entire day becomes about shit, like how can I film this? Okay, so I'm gonna just share this example, yeah, and I don't want this to be like shade to a creator, but I saw this creator put uh create a reel that was 24 hours off of social media, no social media Sundays, and I just instant, but the entire thing was filmed, and I just was instantly thinking, you're not spending time on social media, but all you're doing is thinking through the lens of social media. So you're filming the whole day so you can post it. And again, if she had said 24 months off of social media, let me show you what I learned, I would be very interested. Yes, or 24 lit a whole year, you know what I'm saying? Two years, but like come back and tell us, don't show us how that's happening, kind of thing. And it's I think so many of us see everything through that lens of how can I share this and post it on my story or filming things just to create some sort of I'm I'm like we've lost the point. Yes. Well, and I think lost the point. I think that goes with any addiction. Yeah. Because even Ben and I have had this conversation, Ben's my husband, for those listening. Um, Ben and I have had this conversation, which we'll get into more in the coming weeks around alcohol and addiction and sobriety. You can be dry but not sober. So you can be abstaining as hard as you can, white knuckling, but you're not living sober-minded. Yes. Like you're still every day is emphatical. Exactly. But when someone's sober, you know they're sober, you don't have to ask them. But like if they're dry but not sober, like it's evident. Yeah. There's not freedom. Yeah. It's counterfeit freedom. No, and that's and that's exactly the example. Like, you're still having chains to social media, even though you're spending the day off the weekend, but you're filming everything for social media, then tension's still there. Yes. Like, we need to complete. I want to encourage everybody who's listening to this, spend the weekends off social media. Yes. Like Friday night, again, for me, I don't have to be on on the weekends. Friday night to Monday morning. Again, I use my brick. Yeah. You can use Opal, the free app. Yeah. Like spend that time. Don't think about social media. Don't think about taking pictures. Don't just don't even entertain it. Yes. Because it's it's not, it's not needed. Yes. I'm sorry. Like if the people closest to you and you're like, they're gonna text you, how was your weekend? Yes, nobody, like you wouldn't even feel like I don't need to share. Not that nobody cares, people do, but you don't need to share every little bit of your life. Yes. Well, and I think too, it's like, I think some of us, especially if there are, I want to speak to women like trying to build a platform, yeah. Social media will tell you you need to post consistently. I mean, you of all people know what you need to do to work at it. But I want to say in all areas of life, not just social media and everything, those building a business, anything. God created the Sabbath for a reason. It's to remind us that He's God and we're not. It's to remind us that the world keeps turning. I remember I was in the Holy Land and I got to have this conversation with an incredible Orthodox Jewish man. And I was talking to him about Sabbath. And he said, They don't mess around with Sabbath. They do not mess around with Sabbath. Yeah. Oh my gosh. We had this amazing conversation, and he said he was like, on the Sabbath we act as if everything is complete. Oh that made this like feels so good. Like, what if on the Sabbath we acted as if everything was complete? Of course, we can take anything and make it legalistic. Yeah. But the heart behind it is like this is set for apart. This is for freedom and rest, and it's set apart, and like, oh my gosh. So I want to encourage you if you're building a platform and you're afraid if you take two days off or whatever it is, God is so much bigger than that. So I think you'll see when we're weak, he's strong. Like I think you'll see that maybe those two days you take off, whoa, something happened with my social my creativity grew. Yes, more capacity. Yeah, yes, yes, and I think that is so and having a mindset that's not scarcity. Like if God, again, I believe in this this season, God has called me to social media, even on my business account. I do not post on it a lot, but I'm not afraid of that. Yes, it scared me. Do you know what's so funny is I did I I occasionally like when I so I'll go on my Instagram to check the ends. And when I went on before this week, I was like, oh, I should check her soul fox lately. And I was looking, I was like, oh, she doesn't post a ton. No. Listen, you have so many followers, your business is thriving. Yeah. But and I and I literally made like I had a mental thought of it, oh, because it's not an idol for her. Yeah. And that's not to say that everyone who posts a ton, it's it's an idol. I'm not saying exactly. But I'm saying that because I know, yes, and I'm like, my mindset with it is longevity. I'm like, I don't have the angst of like I have the scarcity mindset. If I don't create now, then I'm gonna become irrelevant and I'm gonna. I'm like, no, the Lord is called me for this. I have very specific keywords set up in my bio. If people want an event content creator, they'll find me. Yep. You know, like it really is. I am so grateful to be in a place where I'm people are coming to me and it's much less the outpouring. A lot of times there's a lot on social media where you are refiances, you are trying to get clients. But I want you to think if you're called to social media, think about that longevity. Like there's not, there's no scarcity mindset. Again, the platform's only social media is only growing. Yeah, so you don't have to, oh my gosh, what if I don't get on now? Or I need to like just allow again, invite the Lord into that, that abundance, yeah. Not have the scarcity mindset. If I don't post for two days, then I'm gonna, my brand's not gonna grow this. Yeah, it's that's not true. Yeah, yeah, it's just that true. Yes, I think that that is actually an exercise to sit down with anything. What are the lies I'm believing about this thing? And what is actually God's truth? Yeah, that is so good. Yeah, and his truth is, I know for me and for a lot of people, his hand is on it. Yeah, and whatever it is, even for fragrance with Sarah, like his hand is on Sarah and guiding your social media. And I'm sure there's probably now been so many people have found you through social media, Instagram, like the Lord's hand is on it. Right. And just really take off that urgency that you feel to stay relevant, to stay seen. Yep. Because ultimately, and I think that's ultimately comes back to like knowing your positioning in Christ. Like I'm seen and known by the creator of the universe, the actual content creator. That is the actual content creator. The ultimate, like that is above anything else. And that is truly above all, and like knowing that authority and knowing that positioning is what is yep, that's what carries you through. Well, I think that is significance, is such a big piece because in our culture now, because of the rise of social media, yeah, everybody longed. I mean, that was already a heart problem since the beginning of time. Exactly. Yeah. Significance, but social media highlights it, yeah, and it's like, oh, again, what would happen if we knew how significant we are in Christ? Outside of outside of this platform. Because it's not like it's it won't do what you're wanting it to do.

unknown 46:48

I know.

SPEAKER_01 46:48

And that's the thing. Like any cultural idol, any personal idol, any anything, anything that's not even an idol, but just a thing, it won't do what God can do. It will not give you hope. Exactly. It will not give you peace. Oh, it will not give you peace. No, it will not give you a sense of self. It will take away your hope, your peace, your sense of self. It will not, like, I just only God can do, only God can give you that identity that you're asking for. Only God can claim you as a child and say, you are good enough. Yep. Oh, exactly. And I think that that's something that so many people with social media and and with TikTok specifically, anybody can really get famous now. Yeah. You know, your singer, you don't have to go on American Idol. Right. You don't have to go on the voice. It's like I can show up on social media. There's so many influencers and content creators evolving from literally just normal person creating content. And everybody sees that opportunity and is like, yeah, I want to be seen, yeah, I want to be known. I want again like just discern and ask the Lord. Like, there's it's not for everybody. Yes. And for some reason, we all think we need to be. Yes. Because yes, and that's the thing, too, is I it's been a really interesting journey for me with still pursuing music because I've always felt, and I, you know, I've shared this, but I've always felt that whenever God was gonna, whatever, whatever God's version, my version, whatever, of success in my music career looks like, He's always told me I'm not gonna do it in the way the world does it. Meaning, and I've always like known, like, okay, it might not be through social media. So I'm not gonna handle this the way that like honestly, for those of you who are singing every day, post like good on you. Yes, like you're building something, that's awesome. But what's so weird is, and that's the comparison thinking, when I see that, I'm like, I'm not doing anything and I forget God's call on my life. And it's like, no, he has. Yes, and I'm still in the middle of it. Yeah, and it's that exactly, and that's what I wanted to touch on is like the discernment of like just because someone else is finding success on this in a very particular way, does not mean that's how God wants to give you success. And I know that to my core. I've actually had a stranger prophesy that over me after God already spoke to me. He was like, just in case you didn't know, again, a stranger prophesy literally the words, he's going to give you the platform. It's not going to be the way the world does it. Wow, he's going to do it for you. And so I have to constantly remember. Yeah, go back to that. When I feel the tug of like, oh well, this person's saying, and it went viral. And people tell me that all the time, and I'm like, yeah, for other people, but I know what God's called me to. Like, I know, and so it's that discernment piece. Exactly. And then what's so interesting about the fragrance thing is fragrance now has its own Instagram and its own, by the time this comes out, it'll have its own Instagram for the podcast and the ministry. So far, it's been under my own. When I first started fragrance, I felt so protective over people like misunderstanding my intentions. Yeah. So I felt so protective of like I love beautiful things, I love making retreats beautiful. Because as women, we love to walk into a space. The value of fragrance is to create safe spaces for women to be filled with the Holy Spirit. And so when a woman walks in somewhere that's beautiful, it's like oh my gosh. Yes, and I want women who come to events to feel like, oh, I belong here, like I belong to something beautiful. And it's and God created beauty. The world is beautiful because he dreamed it up, not because we made it beautiful, because he gave it to us. So with fragrances at like the beautiful flowers, I'm like, I love I could eat that stuff up. I know. But when I did my first retreat, I first was like, I don't want to post it. I don't want to post it because I don't want anyone to think I'm just doing this for social or just doing this for for the beauty, like, so I can show off whatever. And God was like, Kiana, he told me two things. He said, How do you think women are gonna find out about fragrance? Like, I'm going to use this tool. And he said, You love beautiful things. Yeah. Other people do too, and that's okay. Yeah. And it's like, oh. Yeah. Like, and you know what's so amazing about that is it's better in person than it is on social media. Yeah.

unknown 50:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 50:54

That's when you know, like, I explain all the time, like, I actually can't communicate how beautiful moments are in my life on social media. And I think a lot of times people are trying to do the opposite. Yes. Yeah. They're trying to make it seem so much, and I feel like that was your fear of being like, what did they think? I'm I'm just doing this for it's like to be. Because they will know that this person got healed, or this person founded the Holy Spirit, or this person, whatever. And it's like, and I love Sarah. So Sarah is who runs the Fragrance Social on my social. Yeah. Her whole heart. She is amazing. She's the best.

SPEAKER_00 51:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 51:25

She, her whole heart with this whole thing is Kiana. We're just capturing what God is already doing. Exactly. We're not curating, we're not. She's like, we are just sharing. Yeah. Like she's like, my whole purpose for my life is I just want to hit record on what God's already doing. Like, that's what she said. We're just hitting record. And I'm like, oh, that takes the pressure off. Yeah, exactly. Oh, it's so. And then when somebody comes and again, what I'm saying, experience is a fragrance, but like, oh, it's better. The feeling, it's so much better than what it even looked like. And that's when you know God is just in it. Yeah. His hand is in it. Oh my gosh. I love that so much. Because I was really excited for you to start the podcast or to start the Instagram. Yes. And so many people are going to find it. Again, being on social media and seeing things like I find stuff like, you know, I'm like, oh, there's this girl center going on. That. Like it is such a way to meet, especially in Orange County. Girls always they always want to do things. Yeah. Yes. And I think it's going to be so amazing for business. Oh, thank you. Or for fragrance. Yes. Well, and it's been so good because so many girls have found us on social media. Like, oh, when they come to events, I'm like, oh my gosh, I've never met you before. Like, I've never like social media. Or like one girl found it through Google. She Googled worship night, women's worship night, and it came up. And I'm like, oh my gosh, like this is so special. So just seeing God use, because I think my tendency is extremes. Yeah. And so my tendency, like when God started convicting me about social media, even before I cut it out personally, and when I was talking about it as an idol, I was like, I want to get to a point where no one's on social media. Like, let's set the world like blah blah blah. It's like, okay, it's not really possible because also there's so many ways that God uses it. Yeah. And so it is so cool to talk with you about like how are you doing this well because you do it so well. That's just and you do, like, you ask for accountability. Like you're someone who does continually check your heart with it. And like, I remember one time you're like, I need accountability. I and it wasn't even social media, it was about like watching like Netflix on your phone while you're cooking, because I do the same thing. It's like, no, it's bad, you guys. Like, help me. Yeah. I'm the same way. I'm like Gilmore Girls. I'm cooking, Gilmore Girls. I'm cleaning Gilmore Girls. I'm getting ready. Gilmore. It's like, whoa. First of all, find a new show, girlfriend. No, me. It's always Gilmore Girls. Oh, continual loop.

SPEAKER_00 53:43

Always.

SPEAKER_01 53:44

Yeah. Yeah. And that's absolutely again just setting up boundaries and using the devices that you have. Yeah. It's like just be in stillness. Yes. And be in the moments that you're in. That is the number one. I always have this picture. I want somebody to recreate this idea for a content idea, but have everybody out and about with their home phones. Like so back in the day, like we only had home phones, landline. Yes. If everybody was up but on their little home phones, oh, calling, checking the home phone, it would be insane. Ridiculous. It would be ridiculous to be like, you're addicted. Yeah. Like, oh, you need to leave that at like just again. It would be like I would be, you know, young in elementary school, just I gotta get home. I want my friend to call me. Like, you gotta get, you're out and about, you're stuck, you don't even have a phone, you gotta get to a paper. Oh, it's like how much that has changed.

SPEAKER_02 54:42

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 54:43

It's not crazy to look at somebody who's who's waiting in traffic and on their phone. Oh, yeah. It's not crazy somebody. We don't know how to fit. And that's where I feel like we need to get out of the wait, this is too much. Wait, I I'm like, actually give me the ick for this.

SPEAKER_00 54:58

Yes. I want to feel like what are we doing?

SPEAKER_01 55:01

Yes, and pray. Here's the thing. You just gave me, you just reminded me of something. If you are someone who has spends more time on social media than you do reading scripture, because I know I talked to so many women who are like, I don't know how to read scripture, or I just can't get into it. Here's the thing ask the Holy Spirit to break your heart or overwhelm you with scripture because he will. I went through a season, so after I completely forgot about this and after I finally, after five days of God telling me to kill it, I killed my own social media, wasn't on it, wasn't even doing music stuff on it either for a year. There was a probably three-week period where I could not open my Bible without weeping.

SPEAKER_02 55:42

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 55:43

I it was like I would open, I was in Luke, I would open it up, and it was like the words of like Jesus or even like the story of like John the Baptist, like I would weep. And it was like so alive. Oh my gosh, it became so alive. And it's like, ask the whole, he can do anything. Like ask him to bring scripture to life for you because he will. Like, if you are someone who struggles with that, who's listening, like, and you're like, just literally get a brick and look at your screen time and switch it out with scripture and intercessory prayer, you will have fruit. Like the promise is peace. It doesn't mean your circumstances will change. This is not some infomercial changing your life. This is about changing your internal world and your eternity. Yeah. And therefore changing everyone around you. Like it will change your life in the best way. Like your circumstances might change, you might not get all your prayers answered, but you will have peace that surpasses understanding. But you have to ask you. Your room changes, your perspective changes. Yeah. And you're looking through that lens. Something I was just telling my sister, because she was telling me that. She's like, I have such a hard time reading the Bible. I feel like it's just so hard for me. And like, what I've been doing is every single night, like you could look on my desk. I'll send you a picture when I get home. My Bible is just open. Oh my gosh. I've been reading through the book of John. I just have it open. So then when I wake up in the morning, I'm eating. Oh, there's my Bible. There it is. Like, I seriously. No, I just keep it open in spaces. On my bedside, on my breakfast table, at my desk. Wow. Just have it open and have it accessible. Yes. I also think that's an aspect to it. Yeah. We don't want to like, oh, where's my Bible? I don't know where it is. Keep it accessible, keep it open. Yes. And you'll just naturally, I'll be eating breakfast on the go.

unknown 57:29

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 57:29

You pick up on my reading. Oh, it's so good. And I told my sister that too, and she was like, I also want to get back in journaling. Open your journal. Have everything just open. Have it ready. And ready. Oh my gosh. And I'm gonna link, I have a study Bible that I use. I'm gonna link it in this podcast because, like, if you have a hard time understanding, get also like a message version or and read the message version next to your NIV or ESV. But I have a study Bible and it's NIV, but underneath it, the bottom half of every page is notes on every single verse. Hey, here was the context going on. Here's what you here's another verse linked to that. That like when Jesus mentions a prophecy, oh, here's it back in Isaiah. Yeah. And then you can link it. It just is so helpful. So I'm gonna link that. But it's just ask, asking God, like Romans 12 says, don't be transformed by the things of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Who's gonna renew your mind? The Holy Spirit. Yes, the Lord Word of God. Like Jesus will renew your mind. And so, and it's all of these biblical principles are not just so we can be these like boring Christians who like don't drink, don't go on social media, don't do this, don't do that. It's like, no, it's all for freedom. It's all for freedom. And you will find He will replace it with joy.

SPEAKER_03 58:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 58:38

I mean, it is just it's so insane. And I want to touch on something you mentioned earlier. You said when I asked you what you do instead, you said I read fiction. I freaking love that because something God's been teaching me is I am a very I'm a really intense person, and something like I want to learn, I want everything's for like productivity. Everything's for productivity, everything's for like, especially being in ministry, it's like, well, I have to read this like spiritual book or like blah blah blah blah blah, or even like even a book like Abba's Child, somehow I made it about like I'm gonna read this like every year and it's gonna like it became like this. It's such a good book. But it's about your belovedness by not doing anything at all. Right, and yet I made it about doing something. Yeah, I'm like, oh god, you're gonna love me so much after I read this. Like, no, he already loves me, even when I don't read it. But I it was crazy. I finally God started to speak to me about that. Like, hey, I just want to have fun with you because something I'm realizing in therapy is I'm way harder on myself than God is on me. Like, I just like beat myself up for things, or I put all these like rules on myself. And one of the things I started this year was I'm just gonna read fiction. Yeah. So I know I'm reading. We were reading the I got behind on that. I am literally on the edge of my seat for the movie, The Hamage. What was it called? Sunrise on the Reaping. Oh enthralled. Okay, so I had this weekend where I was reading Sunrise on the Reaping. Again, not a spiritual book. Although I will say Ben and I were watching the Hunger Games movies, and we were on the first one, got wrecked by the reaping. Like when Katniss says, I volunteer as trip to.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:10

Yeah, you're able to see, you're like, Jesus.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:12

Yeah, she stood in her place. Like Primrose, what's her, is her name Prim? Yeah. Prim had a death sentence.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:18

We all have had a death sentence. Yeah. Katniss literally took her place. Ben and I had to pause the movie because I was sobbing. I was like, are you getting wrecked by this right now? He was like, yeah. Anyways, all that's to say, side note. God can work anything. Exactly. So I started reading all the sequel or the prequels, um, summaries on the reaping being one of them. And I was reading it on a week where I was prepping. There's this amazing ministry called Cedar House. I was prepping for a sermon there. I had morning routine, which is fragrance's monthly workout and worship event, shameless plug, um, that Saturday. So Friday night I was preaching, Saturday morning, I had morning routine. And normally I put all these really intense guardrails on myself or like things like you should should. Should yeah. My mentor Bill says, Stop shoulding all over yourself. I put so many shoulds all over myself. I love that. So this week I spent more time like just enjoying the hunger games with Jesus. Like I'm just gonna relax.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:17

I can't tell you, I went into that sermon so not that's not to say I didn't do my prep, I didn't pray about it, I didn't spend time with, but I took the legalism, like the bounds off of it. Yes. I went in, we got in and out before I preached, and I'm sitting there with Ben, and I was like, Ben, I think something's wrong. And I was like, he was like, what? And I was like, I'm not stressed right now. Like I feel so much peace, and I feel like all I did this week was like read about like children murdering each other in an arena. But anyways, I and I was just like, maybe it's because I just like let God love me and let him enjoy things with me and like just spend time with me, like just being. No, like literally just being. Yes, like just existing, yes, and like just letting myself just have fun. Like, I think I tend to forget God really likes fun. Yes, like it's he likes fun, he created it. Like when he created the garden, it was all enjoyment. All enjoyment. Yeah, all enjoyment and fun. Oh my gosh. And so I went into that weekend like so full. And I spent more time relaxing and reading a little. That's literally why I do it. Yes, yeah. And I'm like, oh my, I was literally texting Bex like every day, like, please, did you catch up? Did you catch up? Where are you at? Did it catch up? You need to read it because I cannot wait for the movie. Um so all that to say, God enjoys fun. Like, that's like I just that's something I feel like I'm learning, which sounds so weird. Yes. But like that is what I'm it's like when when when he asks you to give up something, it's not just so you can spend your time like focused on like blah blah blah blah blah, like, oh I'm gonna just it's like no, like maybe he just wants to go to the beach with you.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:59

I know, that's my favorite.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:00

And enjoy time with your girlfriend. Yes, that's like that's it. That's my favorite thing. Like God is just those moments are just as sacred as your time in scripture. Yes. So okay, absolutely. Thank you so much for being on today.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:11

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:12

As we wrap up, I have a question that it changes a little bit each week, but I'm gonna ask you. Let's hear it. If Jesus were to roll into town, what would be like where would you take it? Let's say you had all day with Jesus to show him the perfect post to Mesa Newport Day. What would you do? I'm like, literally, that that like makes me tear up. That would just be the best thing ever. Um I w would we would definitely go to the beach. You're making me cry. I'm like, imagine, no, I don't literally imagine.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:47

Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:49

I mean, there's there's like I just I think something with my relationship with the Lord is I'm always inviting him into everything. And like, so I know he's already there with me. Yeah. But if he actually Like in the flesh. In the flesh. I heard a pastor say, when God in the bod, when God in the bod shows up, I would pass out.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:09

Um, I think we would just go to the beach and just be in each other's presence.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:13

Oh just oh and I'm like, that's the best place to be in his presence. I love it. And then you'd probably end the day with pickleball. Probably play pickleball for a coffee shop. Yes. No, that wow, that's like such a intimate, I need to journal about that. Wow. That's such an intimate question. That's like the Lord is yeah, and again, he's just in those moments and he's with us. But yeah, I mean, when I think of him and just I'm I would pass out. I've followed him. You're like, so after I spent three hours on my face in the throne room, I would wipe the mascara off my face and we'd head to the beach.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:52

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:53

Oh, I love that. Well, thank you so much for being on today. I just love you so much. And shameless plug, Soul Fox. I'm gonna link all your info in the podcast. Get a brick. Yes, shameless plug. Also, Brick Sparter up. Everybody who's watching this, um get one. You will regret it. I love you so much. I'm so excited for what's to come for fragrance. Thank you. Thank you for listening to the Fragrance Podcast. We'd love for you to subscribe, like, and write a review for this episode. Fragrance is a 501c3 nonprofit ministry, and your donations are tax deductible. If you'd like to support fragrance, you can click on the link in the episode info.