Millennials are wired differently from any other generation. We're wired to immediately share with the world what we are doing and what we are thinking. If we have a thought we consider worth sharing, we tweet it. If we go somewhere or do something we believe is worth seeing, we Snapchat it. If we like how we look in a picture, we Instagram it.

I am this way. Most of my friends are this way. It's just "what we do" in our generation.

But what if we weren't this way?

Now, I love social media, so I'm the last one to tell anyone to stop using it. I've even thought of becoming a social media rep for a company someday because I enjoy using social media so much.

But what if we didn't share everything?

Now, being more specific, what if we stopped posting so much about every aspect of our spiritual lives on social media?

At this point, you're probably thinking, "Whoa now, what am I reading?" But just hear me out.

Most of us have heard the story of Jesus' birth, but I want to zero in on one passage in particular. In this passage in Luke, Jesus has been born. Angels have appeared to the shepherds, and this is what God's Word says,

"So they [the shepherds] hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told" (Luke 2:16-20, NIV, emphasis added).

Focus in on that emphasized verse. Why would Mary, the mother of the Savior of the world, "ponder" about the things she had been told instead of showing Him off and letting the whole town of Bethlehem know that the Christ had been born?

It was a sweet, deep, unexplainable feeling that she was holding the Savior in her arms, that she would be so privileged and so humbled.

I think God meant for us to treasure moments like these spent in His presence and thoughts that He places in our minds, instead of sharing them 24/7.

God's ways are so much higher and His thoughts are wilder than can be summarized in 140 characters.

There is definitely a time and place for sharing what God has shown us and taught us on social media, but we don't alwaysneed to share, or to share it immediately. Sometimes it's just good to take time to reflect on and treasure what God has shown us and ponder what it means. We wouldn't share everything a significant other has ever said to us because some things are just too intimate and special in that relationship. However, those private words and actions of affirmation given by that loved one allow you to publicly show the world your commitment to each other. The same goes with our Savior. He affirms us in private so we can show His love in public.

The practice of pondering is something I long for because, like much of my generation, I say what I'm thinking, and not always for the right motives. My prayer is that I want to not be so quick to use my social media accounts to summarize what God has told me, but rather to use my life to publicly show what God has done in me after reflecting on what He has privately shown me and told me.

When you do feel his calling to share, SHARE. I've had several friends post things that have helped me in my spiritual journey. But, if you're anything like me, make sure it's with all the right intentions. I can easily let my selfish motives blind me when I post things.

When you feel His calling to ponder, PONDER. We should feel privileged that the Maker of the stars would impart to us His thoughts and let us stand in His presence. Treasure sweet words from the Savior as you journey through this life.

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts " (Isaiah 55:9, NIV).

Find a quiet place. Rest in His presence. Treasure His words to you. Reflect on His Word. Practice pondering.