January 9, 2017
I have gotten a little behind but I refuse to stress over it. I will find the joy in answering these questions. If I do not finish by the end of the month then I give myself permission to go into February. No stress!!!
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
To be honest, I had no problem whatsoever finding the answer to number 5. It was instantaneous. The biggest time-waster in my life is my dumb phone.
I am a big believer that God gives us technology to better reach the world for Christ.
But, Satan can use things that God intends us to use for good to cause us to be distracted and be in sin.
What better way to reach the areas of the world that have not been exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ than with things like the internet and computers and phones and the technology that we have today.
The problem arise when that technology becomes the thing that causes us to use it in such a way that we waste the time that Christ wants us to serve Him.
I have used my phone to encourage fellow Christians. I have planned to meet women for prayer and done so using my phone. I have looked up resources about my spiritual life using my phone and computer. Pinterest is a wealth of information about such things as making a prayer journal, planning Advent devotions, and many more things that have improved my walk with the Lord.
These very questions I am answering were printed off the internet.
It is a good thing that these resources and ways to communicate are here in the world today. It is a blessing. I am glad that I live in this age where I have the internet literally at my fingertips.
My problem comes from the other things I use my phone for that does not improve my spiritual life. For me it is watching the TV on my phone. We have cable and I have an app on my phone that allows me to watch it from the comfort of my very nice, very comfortable bed. I do this every night.
I never intended to get addicted to watching TV on my phone but I am.
I try to justify it that I am watching cooking shows and movies that are relatively clean. The fact is though that every minute I am watching things on my phone are memories that I am not making with my children. I am not spending time reading them stories and tucking them in.
My desire this year if for my phone to not be as much as a distraction as it has in the past. That is a hard task to accomplish. I have gotten in the very bad habit of watching apps that show TV shows and movies. It is my escape at night and sometimes during the day. I spend more time in my room "resting" (which is code for don't bother me, I am watching a show) than with my children some days. That makes me sad and I know it grieves the heart of God. It makes me especially sad when I see my children follow in my footsteps.
I do not have the self discipline to stop on my own. But, I serve a God who is stronger than any sin that consumes me. I need to rely on his strength moment by moment. When I fall, and I know I will, I need to confess and repent. Repent is a big fancy word that Christians throw around a lot. But I think a lot of people misunderstand what it really means. It does not mean saying you are sorry. It means that you truly confess it and then turn away from it. Basically you make a 180 degree turn in the other direction. That is the part that I need God's strength for. Anyone can say the words sorry but no one can make a change in their lives without the power of God.
That is my prayer for this year. That I would put off what is so easily distracting me and move to another direction. I have so many things that I could be doing rather than letting my phone consume me or the computer. Those are good things but what I choose to do with them right now is distracting me from what God has for me to do, not helping me in my walk with the Lord.
So, I am praying for strength to put down my phone more and spend time with the Lord in study and prayer. I also am praying that I take more opportunities to spend time making memories with my children and husband. My focus should be on them, not what movie or show is coming on next.
Lord, help me in this endeavor for I cannot do it alone.
Psalm 54:4
Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
To be honest, I had no problem whatsoever finding the answer to number 5. It was instantaneous. The biggest time-waster in my life is my dumb phone.
I am a big believer that God gives us technology to better reach the world for Christ.
But, Satan can use things that God intends us to use for good to cause us to be distracted and be in sin.
What better way to reach the areas of the world that have not been exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ than with things like the internet and computers and phones and the technology that we have today.
The problem arise when that technology becomes the thing that causes us to use it in such a way that we waste the time that Christ wants us to serve Him.
I have used my phone to encourage fellow Christians. I have planned to meet women for prayer and done so using my phone. I have looked up resources about my spiritual life using my phone and computer. Pinterest is a wealth of information about such things as making a prayer journal, planning Advent devotions, and many more things that have improved my walk with the Lord.
These very questions I am answering were printed off the internet.
It is a good thing that these resources and ways to communicate are here in the world today. It is a blessing. I am glad that I live in this age where I have the internet literally at my fingertips.
My problem comes from the other things I use my phone for that does not improve my spiritual life. For me it is watching the TV on my phone. We have cable and I have an app on my phone that allows me to watch it from the comfort of my very nice, very comfortable bed. I do this every night.
I never intended to get addicted to watching TV on my phone but I am.
I try to justify it that I am watching cooking shows and movies that are relatively clean. The fact is though that every minute I am watching things on my phone are memories that I am not making with my children. I am not spending time reading them stories and tucking them in.
My desire this year if for my phone to not be as much as a distraction as it has in the past. That is a hard task to accomplish. I have gotten in the very bad habit of watching apps that show TV shows and movies. It is my escape at night and sometimes during the day. I spend more time in my room "resting" (which is code for don't bother me, I am watching a show) than with my children some days. That makes me sad and I know it grieves the heart of God. It makes me especially sad when I see my children follow in my footsteps.
I do not have the self discipline to stop on my own. But, I serve a God who is stronger than any sin that consumes me. I need to rely on his strength moment by moment. When I fall, and I know I will, I need to confess and repent. Repent is a big fancy word that Christians throw around a lot. But I think a lot of people misunderstand what it really means. It does not mean saying you are sorry. It means that you truly confess it and then turn away from it. Basically you make a 180 degree turn in the other direction. That is the part that I need God's strength for. Anyone can say the words sorry but no one can make a change in their lives without the power of God.
That is my prayer for this year. That I would put off what is so easily distracting me and move to another direction. I have so many things that I could be doing rather than letting my phone consume me or the computer. Those are good things but what I choose to do with them right now is distracting me from what God has for me to do, not helping me in my walk with the Lord.
So, I am praying for strength to put down my phone more and spend time with the Lord in study and prayer. I also am praying that I take more opportunities to spend time making memories with my children and husband. My focus should be on them, not what movie or show is coming on next.
Lord, help me in this endeavor for I cannot do it alone.
Psalm 54:4
Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.
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