Today I am posting a Marriage Monday over at Woman to Woman. Please join us.
Today I am linking up with Courtney of Women Living Well as we discuss social media. This is a series that will continue for the next seven weeks.
We live in a very connected world. Laptops, cell phones with internet, ipads, ipods and internet connection at many stores and coffee shops. With all of these resources at our finger tips, we are never far from the world.
How much time do you spend with social media (text, facebook, twitter, flickr, etc) each day? Do you even know? I have a little homework for you to start the week. I want you to keep a tablet and pen next to your computer, and if you use internet on your phone, try putting a sticky note or something with your phone. Every time you start using media for non-work related things, write down the time. As soon as you are done, write down that time. Do this for one entire day. Then at night (or whenever your day ends) add up all of the time you spent. I am guessing you will be surprised. I don't really spend hours at a time, but I am off and on many times throughout the day. I am anxious to see what my logged media hours will be.
So how does media affect our walk with God? Let me ask you this, when you wake up in the morning what is the first thing you do? Check your cell? Or do you say a prayer thanking God for a new day? What is the last thing you do at night? Check facebook or email one more time? Or pray? And which is opened first each day, laptop or Bible? Yes, media has an effect on our walk with God.
About a year and a half ago, I added internet service to my cell for the first time. I am a facebook junkie and was so excited to have this new service. Then last fall I started feeling like God was telling me to get rid of the cell internet. I thought it was a little silly, after all, I only paid ten dollars a month, so it wasn't expensive. I did spend a lot of time on it, but I didn't feel I went over board. I didn't understand why God wanted me to get rid of it. One day the feeling was so strong that I was literally in tears most of the day. When my husband came home I explained the situation to him and asked him to pray for me right then. As soon as he said "amen" I felt a peace and knew what I had to do.
Not having the service showed me that I was addicted to it. I turned to it often. I never felt the need to rush to the scriptures but I often felt the need to rush to my cell's internet. I was checking it last thing at night and first thing in the morning. The ding of a facebook text went off all night long interrupting my husband's sleep. Now that God has shown me where I went wrong and released me to have the service again, I am more careful to not make it a priority.
Is social media wrong? In and of itself, no. But it can be a hindrance to our walk with God. I encourage you to do the homework by logging your time, this will give you an idea of where your time is spent and if you need to make adjustments. Also, pray. Ask God if there is any media area you need to step away from, whether permanent or temporary, and be willing to obey. God should never take a backseat to our social media.
I look forward to sharing my logged time and hearing how you did. Please share your thoughts on this subject in a comment below.
Sweet Blessings ~
Today I am linking up with Courtney of Women Living Well as we discuss social media. This is a series that will continue for the next seven weeks.
We live in a very connected world. Laptops, cell phones with internet, ipads, ipods and internet connection at many stores and coffee shops. With all of these resources at our finger tips, we are never far from the world.
How much time do you spend with social media (text, facebook, twitter, flickr, etc) each day? Do you even know? I have a little homework for you to start the week. I want you to keep a tablet and pen next to your computer, and if you use internet on your phone, try putting a sticky note or something with your phone. Every time you start using media for non-work related things, write down the time. As soon as you are done, write down that time. Do this for one entire day. Then at night (or whenever your day ends) add up all of the time you spent. I am guessing you will be surprised. I don't really spend hours at a time, but I am off and on many times throughout the day. I am anxious to see what my logged media hours will be.
So how does media affect our walk with God? Let me ask you this, when you wake up in the morning what is the first thing you do? Check your cell? Or do you say a prayer thanking God for a new day? What is the last thing you do at night? Check facebook or email one more time? Or pray? And which is opened first each day, laptop or Bible? Yes, media has an effect on our walk with God.
About a year and a half ago, I added internet service to my cell for the first time. I am a facebook junkie and was so excited to have this new service. Then last fall I started feeling like God was telling me to get rid of the cell internet. I thought it was a little silly, after all, I only paid ten dollars a month, so it wasn't expensive. I did spend a lot of time on it, but I didn't feel I went over board. I didn't understand why God wanted me to get rid of it. One day the feeling was so strong that I was literally in tears most of the day. When my husband came home I explained the situation to him and asked him to pray for me right then. As soon as he said "amen" I felt a peace and knew what I had to do.
Not having the service showed me that I was addicted to it. I turned to it often. I never felt the need to rush to the scriptures but I often felt the need to rush to my cell's internet. I was checking it last thing at night and first thing in the morning. The ding of a facebook text went off all night long interrupting my husband's sleep. Now that God has shown me where I went wrong and released me to have the service again, I am more careful to not make it a priority.
Is social media wrong? In and of itself, no. But it can be a hindrance to our walk with God. I encourage you to do the homework by logging your time, this will give you an idea of where your time is spent and if you need to make adjustments. Also, pray. Ask God if there is any media area you need to step away from, whether permanent or temporary, and be willing to obey. God should never take a backseat to our social media.
I look forward to sharing my logged time and hearing how you did. Please share your thoughts on this subject in a comment below.
Sweet Blessings ~
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I've shared this with you before but this is one reason I don't have a phone that can access the internet. I know I would be addicted to it. I am planning a computer fast day. How will the WEB world survive without me?!?! I am suspecting life will go on just fine. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat reminder, Jenifer.
A great post. I don't have a cell phone with internet. I am glad I don't. I am not as bad as I was with the internet on the computer. When we first got it years ago I thought I would never be able to do without it but I am not near that bad now. This is something people should be careful with though and your post does show us why. A really great post thank you for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you.
This is a great reminder for us to have balance. Too much of anything is bad. One night last week, all of us were together in one room, but each was on either their laptop or cell phone. We were more interested in what was up with our facebook friends then each other. We decided we need to start setting some restrictions on media time! Balance is the key to everything and there is always going to be something to distract from our walk with God (if we let it).
ReplyDeleteBrenda, so true. Family, or even friends, can sit in the same room and be more interested in what other's are doing on social media than each other. I've been there even. I do not want being "connected" to rule my life!
ReplyDeleteOk, this whole post was a big OUCH for me! Thanks for the challenge and encouragement. I want/need to run to God more than I run to the internet/facebook/email.
ReplyDeleteHi! I found you via Media Mondays. I actually tried an experiment like the one you describe and you're right - I as surprised! I think it's largely the reason that I've stayed off Twitter and Facebook. I may take the plunge and put my blog on Facebook, but I'll need to pray about that more first.
ReplyDeleteAmy
makingajoyfulhome.blogspot.com
Hi Jenifer - Shanda, over at 'a pause of the path' brought up the same thing. I fairly new to blogging and don't have or want facebook - but I too can see how much time I allow it to steal. I need to put God first - then the bloggy world. Great post
ReplyDeleteGod bless
Tracy
Echoing Lisa... Ouch! Yes, my phone and computer call to me... and I answer a lot. Fortunately my love for FB faded pretty quickly. It created way to much anxiety and insecurity for me. I tried Twitter, but I still just don't get it. I guess blogging is probably my biggest weakness. Taking breaks really helps me. Sharing it with Kelli really allows me to "unplug" on my week off and it actually feels really good. Also, internet on my phone can be an issue, but I do enjoy being able to look up recipes and locations at my fingertips. I love the navigation on my phone... it's been a huge help for me while we are away from home. Great post, looking forward to the next one!
ReplyDeleteJenifer and Courtney,
ReplyDeleteSocial Networking can be very addicting. The addiction is related to gambling actually. It's like a slot machine. Will you be rewarded with a new email? A new facebook message? A new comment on your blog post? It's these little rewards that keep us coming back for more, until it becomes addiction.
Luckily, with Jesus in our life, we don't have to be bound to things like this. Praise God, He sets us free!
Manifest Blog
Fantasic post! I'm going to enjoy this series also and probably going to be convicted some...but for the better! Thank you for sharing so openly and encouraging the time limit and noticing how much time we spend on the computer! Blessings to you.
ReplyDelete@Stephan, I had never thought of it like that, but it is similar. What a good point.
ReplyDeleteHi Jenifer,
ReplyDeleteI am on and off looking at other peoples blog all day, but seldom ever go to FB and sometimes I forget to look at my blog to see who has commented. I decided a long time ago that I would not let it run my life and I have worked hard to keep it that way. Prayer comes first in the morning and I read the Word every day at several different sittings.
I have to work at it, but it is so worth it.
Hugs, Cindy
I realized that I was online a bit too much a few months ago, so I started setting limits on my time. My mornings are quiet time with God, and then I check in with my mym group. I'm off as soon as my girls are up - and I stay off pretty much until they are in bed.
ReplyDeleteI think it has really made a difference :)
I don't have internet on my phone as I would be addicted to it too! I have cut back on my computer time as I've been neglecting my kids, hubby, and home to be online. It's a hard habit to break!
ReplyDeleteMy husband got data plans for our phones too. He uses his a lot; primarily for GPS (he's a firefighter/paramedic) and word games like scrabble. I was the one who said a phone of for dialing ten digits and talking. I admit to checking a thing here or there, but it's much too frustrating for me - the screen is way too small!
ReplyDeleteBut there are other things that draw me in - blogs, ebay, FB, etc. Then there's all the helpful home school advice and free ebooks, and more. If we're not careful, it can zap our whole day!
Coming over from the link-up - Thanks!