Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

FaithWalkers

Home
Evangelical
One Proven Way to Control Technology Overload

One Proven Way to Control Technology Overload

Last updated on: July 24, 2017 at 5:30 am by Bill Blankschaen

One Proven Way to Control Technology Overload 2017-07-24T04:08:49-06:00 Bill Blankschaen

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Scripture admonishes us to “think on these things,” to “meditate day and night” on truth, and to “study to show ourselves approved unto God.” And yet, the very technology that made it easier than ever to do so, can also make it harder than ever to do so—if we don’t control technology overload.

10104822523_017e1585f3_k

Our easy access to information and connection creates an “always on” lifestyle that leaves little time for introspection, meditation, and the sort of intentional thinking required for intentional living with abundant faith.

And, let’s face it, we usually don’t control technology. We let it dictate to us how we live out our faith.

Oh, we don’t bow to it. We don’t set out to structure our day around it. Yet that’s often what happens.

We reach for it as we roll out of bed and light up the screen as our first contact with the world each day.
We have a moment to think or pray and we whip out our phones instead to surf social media.
We find ourselves waiting in line with our children and, instead of engaging them in conversation, we scroll to discover the latest news.
Worse yet, we find the sermon dull so we open email to make sure we’re not missing something more important.

Sometimes I think that if the rich, young ruler had come to Jesus today, Jesus would have told him to sell all his technology and give his smartphone to the poor.

I suspect most of us would walk away saddened, googling “alternate ways to heaven.”

Let’s face it: technology has made it easier to seem less dependent on God than ever before. When we didn’t have access to instant communication, we had no choice but to wait and to trust.

Now a tap of the finger can give us the sensation of doing something substantive. It allows us to feel as if we are in control. Even when, by becoming more enslaved to it, we’re losing more control of our lives every day.

And that’s the truth of it, really.

Our failure to control technology is driven by fear to the detriment of our faith and family.

We fear missing out on something, of being out of the loop. Consequently, we ignore the things that matter most because that shiny screen promises something that feels better in the moment.

One Tactic to Control Technology

I don’t claim to have mastered the use of technology, but I have learned a few useful techniques to help keep first things first. One of them is to practice what I call a digital sabbath. [See my post “How to Take a Digital Sabbath”]

But here’s my challenge to you: designate On and Off times each day for your technology access.

As each new day begins, don’t let email, social, or news outlets determine your first thought of the day. All too often, we wake up and reach for our phones like insects drawn inexorably to the light. Then we wonder why we feel burned out, negative, and reactionary.

You can choose your first thoughts of the day. Make them positive. [See my post “Do You Start the Day with God before You?”]

For me, as an entrepreneur, I’ve chosen not to check email or team communication channels until 9 AM each day. The morning is protected for sharpening the saw, thinking, and writing.

It takes faith not to check my email and trust that, if I put first things first, God will supply my needs.

Then choose a time each evening when you’ll put the phone away. I choose to shut it down as I head to dinner with the family at 6 PM. Even on a night where I need to work more (the life of an entrepreneur) I stay off email and focus on a specific task.

I find that when I set on/off times to access technology, I’m able to be more present with people, think deeper about life, and be more intentional about living out my faith and calling.

Some trust in chariots and some in smartphones and instant email access, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. That doesn’t mean we don’t use those tools to fulfill our calling, but we don’t make it our life calling to use those tools.

If we don’t set boundaries on our access to technology, our faith will suffer.

Technology is a gift from God, given to help us fulfill His mission. Let’s treat it as such.

Photo credit: Jon Fingas, Creative Commons 2.0

Previous Post

May 18, 2017

Is Shame the New Silent Killer in America?

Next Post

July 27, 2017 Teach from Love: Sam Sorbo Delivers Superb School Year Devotional

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Reviews Christian Living Church Culture FaithWalkers Family Guest Posts In Your Church Interviews Leadership Movie Reviews Politics Spotlight Uncategorized

Select a Month November 2017 August 2017 July 2017 May 2017 March 2017 January 2017 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 May 2015 April 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 August 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Absalom was David's son who led a rebellion against him.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE