Earlier this year I got to meet Alison in person. I was so amazed by her humbleness as a blogger, as a women full of wisdom, and as a gifted writer. I would intently hang on to every word she spoke because when Alison speaks, her passion speaks. She is on fire for God, the gospel, and for the importance of developing a relationship with God.
What I love most about this post is that just like Alison in person, her writing speaks with honesty and boldness.
By: Alison Tiemeyer
Whether you write for one or for thousands, you are making a name for yourself.
You can stop reading if you think I am selfish, egotistical, harsh or ‘in it’ for the wrong reason. But before you stop reading, please tell me that you aren’t blogging the least bit for the same reason.
Yes, my blog exists because God placed a message on my heart. And yes, I write on my blog each week because God has given me the words. And yes, my ultimate purpose and my biggest goal for this place on the web is that God’s name would be louder than mine – proclaimed for the world to read and see.
I write all of that honestly, from the deepest parts of myself.
But in the midst of it all, I believe that God has given me this platform. He has given me the opportunity to make some money doing something I am passionate about. He has provided opportunities to share my passion with others.
Because of this blog, my name is greater than it was a year ago. And prayerfully – with God’s blessing and sovereign guidance – my name and the legacy of it will continue to grow.
Whether you like it or not, your blog is attached to your name which is attached to your blog which is your platform. And I am about to make a bold statement that might make some of you cringe:
It is okay to want your platform to grow. It is okay to desire a greater name.
There’s something else, though. Before you leave my blog and never come back, there is a piece to this greater name puzzle that must be in place – every day, with every word, with every action.
Along with your name, you are leaving a legacy.
Your legacy can be one of pride and arrogance, selfishness and personal gain. Or your legacy can be one of the gospel, of grace, of love, of kindness.
Your platform – your blog – is your legacy.
I said it’s okay to want your platform to grow. It’s okay to desire a greater name. Just know, my friend, that along with a greater name comes a larger legacy.
We are told to be in the world but not of the world. (1 John 2:15)
We are told to love the Lord and to love other people. (Matthew 22:37-39)
We are told to live upright and godly lives. (Titus 2:12)
I believe, totally and completely, that we can do all of those important things without becoming selfish, egotistical bloggers. We can do all those things and more while also leaving a legacy of grace, truth, and gospel love.
How?
We abide in Christ, for without Him we can do nothing. (John 15:5)
Here’s the key: we can’t just say we’re abiding in Christ while also living for our platforms – our greater names.
We have to actually do the abiding – live the abiding – surrender to the abiding.
I wrote this in my journal a few days ago: “I live in chaos and busyness because I constantly climb a ladder of trying to win, trying to make myself better, seeking approval. I say yes because it’s an opportunity to prove myself. Lord, humble me. I only want to live for you, to bow with singleness of heart before the throne of grace, to live as a servant for your Good News.”
I don’t have this abiding thing figured out. But I’m trying. I’m working at it, because it’s important.
If I strive and climb the ladder to make my name great, I lose. There is nothing at the end of that ladder but brokenness and sinfulness and great disappointment.
My friends, when we abide in Christ, we quit striving on our own. When we climb, we climb toward Him.
When we abide in Christ, we give up making a greater name for ourselves and instead leave a legacy of divine purpose.
That’s why I long for my platform to grow. This is the reason why I weekly come to this place and write on AlisonTiemeyer.com.
I don’t have it figured out. I don’t claim to have it figured out. Rather, I claim to walk alongside you, to grow in my ability to boldly abide, to learn about the impact of my legacy.
Blogging buddy, it is okay to want your platform to grow. It is ok to desire a greater name.
It is okay when you are constantly abiding, constantly learning how to abide. It’s okay when you admit the selfishness, pride, and climbing toward vain greatness.
It is okay when you ask God to enter in and guide you into a legacy of gospel goodness, powerful truth, and humble love.
I’m walking along beside you.
Related Post: Step by Step, How to start a Christian Blog.
Alison is wife, blogger, and Jesus-follower growing in grace and truth daily. She loves coffee in the morning, experimenting in the kitchen, camping with her husband, and reading in a hammock, just about anywhere. Her blog AlisonTiemeyer.com exists to encourage faithful growth and passionate living. You can find Alison on Facebook , Instagram, and Twitter.
After reading this post, I felt a release of weight come off of me. It IS ok to build a greater name. It IS ok to build your platform. I’m doing this for Him. So the more people I reach, the more people that can be changed for His glory. Thanks, Alison, for your encouragement!
Amen, I am so glad you received that from Alison’s post!! I know that was and is her hope for writing this.
This is great, Alison. We each say we blog for Jesus, for the message He has given us, but as you said, we must first abide in Him, all the time not just when we feel like it. There is a battle for the ground we stand on and we must not give it up. Let God take us to new heights and He will, as we surrender our will to His will.
Great post, great message for us. Thanks for writing it!
Amen, Cindy! “The battle ground we stand on and must not give up!” I like that! =)
So true we must abide in him first. Thank you for your honesty. I too can get caught up striving to better myself and climb the ladder. I must be for the right reason. However, we have a very clever God. He will knock that ladder right down when we are not abiding in him.
Amen – abide. Honest words, Alison. Thank you for the transparency and allowing us to come alongside you. May we toot God’s horn louder than our own – as we’re resting well in Him.
Yes, yes, yes! He deserves all of the praise and all of the glory. And the words we write come first from Him and His Spirit in us. Thanks for commenting, Kristi!
True words embed the heart! Wow! This is my prayer…to leave a legacy or a solid footprint that demonstrates my heart and love for God. If I build platform along the way that is great and I am unashamed of sharing God’s hope, love, promises, and truth!
Well said, Sheila. I sure am thankful for blogging buddies to do this alongside. May we never stop lifting one another up in love! Thanks for blessing my heart this morning. 🙂
I’m a newbie Christian blogger and this helped put my feelings of wanting to have a successful blog into perspective. I blog because I felt the Lord called me to blog to share the gospel but with my name attached I want to leave a legacy as well. I felt like I couldn’t do both. This is confirmation it’s ok to do both.
It’s definitely okay, Alexis. I think oftentimes God uses small obedience and turns it into grand demonstrations of His power. Our job is to be content and rest in Him no matter if we remain a “small” blogger or a large one. Thanks for sharing, girl. Keep on keeping on!
Thanks, Alison. Great perspective. And I love this, “My friends, when we abide in Christ, we quit striving on our own. When we climb, we climb toward Him.” What great imagery! Blessings!
Thank you for this. Challenging, yet encouraging and so important! Good to know other bloggers wrestle with this concept of growing a business while staying humble and submitted to His purposes. Thank you!
Thank you for writing this! I’ve wanted to write a post for a long time called ‘I Want to Be Famous and Why There’s Nothing Wrong With That’, along very similar lines to this. So often we’re told it’s all Jesus, but if we didn’t actually sit down and write what He’s given us, the blog posts wouldn’t write themselves! The blog framework doesn’t just magically appear. I’ve been reading a book called ‘Night of a Million Miracles’ about smuggling a million Bibles into China in the early 80s and how crucial their planning was. Yes, God did the miracle of getting them in but they had to actively participate.
I know that if God gives me something to write and I procrastinate on it, that I don’t get any more ideas till I actually write what I’ve been given, but when I am writing it then the ideas won’t stop.
I LOVE this, Lizzy! Yes & amen! God plants the vision, gives us dreams and gifts and passions. But it’s our job to pick up the tools and use them for Him! I think you should still write that post. 😉 We need your words! Thanks for commenting.
Thanks for sharing, Carmen! I sure do appreciate you and your ministry! You are doing the abiding work of leaving a strong legacy. I’m honored to stand by your side in ministry. Love you, friend.
Thank you for this post-Alison! I struggle because it’s hard to separate the two. I think you did a great job and it was helpful to read your thoughts!
Blessings to you!