Unplug From Devices and Plug into God
Have you noticed that the stress of life and the amount of anxiety people are experiencing is increasing at a rate so fast that people are being overcome by it? We all fight to not let that happen, some with more success than others. To rescue us, the technological world has come up with some very helpful solutions — laptops, tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, and even Alexa! But are they really so helpful?
It’s true, you never have to miss a call, a text, an email, a private message. You can stay on top of every news item, every sports score, every weather fluctuation, everything that’s happening in your friends’ lives, your family’s lives. You can monitor your own health — your blood pressure, your heart rate, your breathing. You can even keep count of how many steps you took today. Wow! Think of how much time you’ll save not having to visit your doctor. Oh, and if you forgot to turn the heat down at home, or forgot to turn the oven off, or forgot to turn on the light timers — no worries, you can do it all on your home automation app. Oh, and yes, you also can feel extra safe by monitoring every room in your house 24/7 with your home security app. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired just reading through these technological advancements, let alone learning how to use all of them. Do you ever wonder….
Are these modern marvels helping to alleviate our stress and anxiety? Or are they causing our stress and anxiety?
Let me put something out there for you to consider: I believe that one of the enemy’s greatest tactics in these last days is to distract us from quiet, meditative time with our Heavenly Father.
It’s in those times that we learn to hear His voice, find our confidence in Him, learn to find our peace and rest in Him.
When I look around, I see so many anxiety-ridden Christians with stress levels off the charts. And what many of them have in common is their love affairs with their devices — tied to their phones, bombarded with news and pop culture and every other piece of information out there — filling every spare second with media of one form or another. Let me pose a question: How does a person hear or experience God in all of that noise?
I personally know some people who have given themselves over to constant external stimulation so much, that they can’t and don’t know how to just sit quietly with nothing but their own thoughts. I believe that is very unfortunate, especially when it pertains to spending quiet time with their Heavenly Father.
A couple of helpful Scriptures:
“And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:11-12 (KJV)
“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10a (KJV)
I do believe God is capable of speaking to us in any way, at any time. However, I also believe that God desires that we want Him. Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV) says, “And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t think that scrolling through Facebook, reading a spiritual quote or listening to a four-minute message amounts to “…searching for me with all your heart.”
Let me challenge you today to take charge of your devices, which are major time-wasters for most of us. Use them to serve your purposes, rather than letting them monopolize all of your valuable time. Use them to make your life more convenient; use them to create free time, rather than robbing you of it.
Your Heavenly Father knows you intimately. I encourage you to spend time with Him getting to know Him intimately.