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Prayer Tip: Addicted to Our Screens and the Social Dilemma

January 8, 2023
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Daily Scripture

Proverbs 25:28 (NIV), 1 Corinthians 10:23 (CEB), Galatians 5:22-23 (CEB), Psalm 46:10a (NIV)

Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)
Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 10:23 (CEB)
Everything is permitted, but everything isn’t beneficial. Everything is permitted, but everything doesn’t build others up. (CEB)

Galatians 5:22-23 (CEB)
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (CEB)

Psalm 46:10a (NIV)
“Be still, and know that I am God.” (NIV)

Prayer Tip

by Ashly Cooley, Executive Assistant to Locations & Care at Resurrection

I was born into the Gen X generation (I am, as my daughter identifies me, an old peach). I remember landlines, I remember life before answering machines or remote controls for the television. I remember renting a VCR and tapes from the video store before VCRs became common in homes. I remember life before cell phones and I remember feeling safer, in ways, than I do now having access to a phone if I needed help. Sometimes I long for days with no phone pinging, for times when I am unreachable. Other days I am so grateful my husband has his cell so I can remind him to get the avocados that I left off the grocery list while he is at the store.

Technology is neither good nor bad. It is our use or dependance that can become problematic. It is useful that I can see my cousin in Texas or New Hampshire’s new baby. I wouldn’t get to see them otherwise! I love seeing my friends on Facebook and keeping up with their lives. Then, because my heart has dark places left unchecked sometimes, the useful thing that lets me see my friend’s beautiful families asks me if I noticed their new house or car. How did they get that? Why don’t I have it? We are the same age, why do their bodies look like that and mine look like this? They’re voting for who? I thought I liked them but if that is their politics now, I guess I don’t know them that well. Suddenly the thing that was supposed to bring us together is causing division.

What is your relationship with technology? Do you use it too much? That is a decision best left to you and God–our hearts are different and react to things in different ways. My heart needs more quiet, reflection time away from social media and technology. Others are able to use it more in a healthy way. This would be a good thing to pray about this week. Take some time to clear your mind and pray about your use of technology. See if you feel God nudging you to take action.

If you feel you need to lower your use, you can put an app on your phone that notifies you when you have gone over the amount of time you wanted to spend. More simply, you can put it out of reach during certain times. I have a friend who took social media off her phone so she has to be at a computer to use it. It’s no longer at her fingertips all the time.

You can also choose to follow more positive content on social media. I really like Adam Hamilton, Bob Goff, Kate Bowler, and Cole Arthur Riley. You can ask your pastor who they like to follow. Fill your feed with uplifting posts and people. You can find podcasts, music, videos, articles that will help elevate your relationships with God and others. Technology can be a big force for good if you choose to use it in ways that are aligned with your values.

Dear God, thank you for the gift of innovative minds who continue to bring us new ways to connect with each other. Please help us to use them wisely and in ways that are pleasing to you. Amen.