A Much Needed Phone Break

Yesterday, I was challenged by a friend to “fast” from my phone. And, apart from a few calls and texts that needed to be done (a husband and preacher’s life!), I stayed true to that. When I intentionally, and purposefully put my mind to it, while I was tempted to just go and touch the screen every now and again, I was able to unplug from my phone, and you know what? It felt good! I even went so far as to not write yesterday and meme, because I knew I would be tempted to look at my likes.  What I did do was pray more, continue on a book I started, spent more time with my wife and kids, and smoke a pork loin. I took it easy, and enjoyed the quiet without the noise of my phone.

Loved ones, we were not meant to always be looking down at a screen. We were made with relationship in mind. We were made to draw closer to God, and through His love, love all others. It was liberating to not feel the need to check my phone every few minutes: I may just take a phone break every day, though not as severe! My connection to my creator and my family made me feel whole and complete, even though the withdrawal symptoms were there.

So my challenge today is this: disconnect. Take a “phone fast.” Connect, instead, with your Creator, and the people He put in to your life. Enjoy His creation; have a cup of coffee with someone, share a meal. Go and enjoy the time you have with the people you love. We were designed with relationship in mind. We were restored for relationship with the Father and His Church through the blood of Jesus Christ. Let’s not squander it with the little boxes in our pockets!

Colossians 3

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.