Practically Christian Podcast

I Will Not Build My Life On Likes

Josh and Debbie

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0:00 | 3:07

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Low views can mess with your head fast. We talk candidly about why we stopped posting the Field Brief after seeing tiny numbers, and how that moment exposed something deeper than motivation: a quiet hunger for people’s approval. If you create content, lead a team, serve at church, or just want to live with more courage, this conversation hits the real tension between obedience and applause. 

We anchor the episode in Galatians 1:10 and ask the question that cuts through every algorithm and every performance trap: am I seeking the approval of man, or the approval of God? From there we unpack how chasing viral success can backfire, leaving you stuck making the same safe thing just to keep the audience happy, while the work you actually feel called to do gets pushed aside. 

We also lean on Psalm 139 to remember identity and design: you were knit together on purpose for a purpose, which means you do not have to cram yourself into someone else’s box. And we bring it back to what matters most, the gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth that even one viewer is worth showing up for. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review if this helped you reset your focus.

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Why We Stopped Posting

SPEAKER_00

I'll do it for you. And I know that sounds funny as I'm trying to get you to watch these videos, and the algorithms built on how long you're gonna stay around and watch and all of the things, and I'm sure there's more exciting things, but I don't do it for you. See, it was hard, man. Welcome back to the field brief. We haven't done these in forever because the two I did only got like 15 views, and I was like, well, why waste time if no one's gonna watch? And so we put it on pause. And instead of going, no, we waste time because it's not a waste, and just pushing forward and doing.

Approval Of God Over People

SPEAKER_00

See, Galatians 1.10, Paul tells us, do I seek the approval of man? Do I seek the approval of others? Or do I seek the approval of God? Am I doing the things that God has put in my path to do? Am I doing the things that God has called me to do? Or am I doing the things that I think men are

The Trap Of Going Viral

SPEAKER_00

gonna do? You know, I've seen a lot of videos that uh people chase going viral, people chase the next big thing, people chase the audience,

Built With Purpose Not A Box

SPEAKER_00

the subscribers, the followers, and then they talk about how they're stuck. They talk about how now that they have it, they have to keep making the same videos and they can't do the ones they want to do. Because too often we're seeking the approval of man instead of going, what about my heavenly father? Is he approving of me? See, and that's what we need to focus on. That's more important than anything else I could do. Who cares if this video gets 10 views? That's 10 people that got to hear the gospel of Jesus and got to hear. Stop seeking the approval of those around you. Look, Psalm 139 says, You were knit together in your mother's womb, that Jesus intricately made you. And he did it on purpose for a purpose. There are things that you do so well. Are you doing those things? Or are you trying to fit into everyone else's box? Are you trying to fit into the box that wasn't designed for you to be in?

One Viewer Still Matters

SPEAKER_00

We stopped making these videos because we were seeking the approval of man. Because I went, no one's watching. And I forgot that if it's just one person watching, that one person still needs to hear that Jesus died for you. That he was buried and he rose from the grave for you.

Question To Reflect On

SPEAKER_00

So that's our field brief for today. As you can see, we're out on the water. Didn't have the greatest day. That's a whole nother story. In fact, it's another video that you should go watch. So until next time, comment. Where are you seeking the approval of man? Where are you seeking the approval of others to the detriment of the approval of your heavenly father? Love you.