Are you Engage-able?

Four weeks ago, I tackled the topic of accessibility. This week, we’ll go deeper.

We have never been more tethered in today’s world, yet ironically, never more disconnected. We have multiple communication devices and platforms, yet we’re disengaged in personal contact. Telling the world about our lives, while hiding our hearts.

Here’s a few questions to consider:

—How accessible are you?

—What do people have to do to reach you?

—Are you—for lack of a better term—engage-able?

—How are you filtering who reaches you and doesn’t?

—Where is that filter coming from or motivated by?

We must honestly evaluate how we are engaging the world and being perceived. And, as believers, evaluate how we are impacting people’s lives for the Kingdom.

Of course, we can’t take every phone call, respond to every email when it comes, or have a conversation with every person we encounter. But, honestly, that isn’t the issue, is it? We stay behind the gun, because we weren’t available last week when the initial connection was made.

So, is there an answer? . . . There’s always an answer, but they’re rarely easy and always take work.

Here’s some expanded questions from before. Take some time and think them through:

1—Who am I immediately accessible to and why? What size is that circle? Should it be bigger or smaller? Are the people I love really in my accessible circle?

2—Am I in control of my communication and connection or is it in control of me? Do I have too many devices and platforms for me to keep up with? What should go?

3—If God wanted to speak to me today, what would He have to do to get my attention?

Now, here’s a few practical suggestions:

1—Make a list of who should be in your circle of accessibility, then make a list of who is actually in your circle. Decide how you’ll balance what you find.

2—Sit your family down, beg them to be honest, and ask them to tell you if they feel you are available and accessible? Engaged? Maybe offer them to share on a scale of 1 to 10. Don’t be defensive. Take the info and make changes. That’s the point of asking.

3—Do the same exercise with your friends.

4—You may need to do this exercise in your work environment, especially if you are in any level of management, and particularly if you’re the CEO.

5—The last and final suggestion—and this one is tough—lay your communication devices and media platforms, such as your Facebook page, on the altar and ask God what He would have you do to balance your life with His will? Ask Him what you should do to become more accessible to Him.

If God has full access to you, you will impact who you’re supposed to, when you should.

The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface, dives into the depths of God, and brings out what God planned all along. Who ever knows what you’re thinking and planning except you yourself? The same with God—except that he not only knows what he’s thinking, but he lets us in on it. —1 Corinthians 2:10 MSG