Making time for what is most important
This past week I had a dental appointment. As I waited in the lobby along with six others, I noticed every person in the room focused on their phone. Cell phones offer many important uses for us, but do they distract us from making time for what is most important?
Cell phones have a multitude of benefits:
- We can quickly contact others in a variety of ways.
- If we need information, the cell phone allows us to look it up.
- We can listen to music, shop, watch videos, read a book, find tutorials on how to do things, etc.
- That trusty cell phone lets us take pictures, make videos, keep our appointments, and works as an alarm clock.
- Our cell phones can plan a trip for us and keep us on the right track.
- And one of the most important benefits–they are useful in an emergency.
You can probably think of a dozen more uses for our phones.
But there’s always a but . . .
Researchers focus on the dangers of cell phone usage–from changes in brain activity, reaction time, and sleep patterns, to the possibility of cancer or brain tumors. Statistics show that cell phones cause increased traffic accidents when used while driving.
Over and above the topics being researched above, we’ve noticed other issues associated with cell phone use:
- Less face-to-face interaction among people
- Excessive use of cell phones limits family time and communication.
- Increased use of social media reduces individual or group interaction with others.
- Cell phones change the way people communicate. Text messaging abbreviation alters our language of communication.
- Social skills have taken a nose dive. People struggle to communicate in the public setting. Is it lack of practice in having a “real” conversation?
- What does it say about us, when we have a spare moment, that the first thing we do is get on our phone?
What if?
What if during the day, each time we looked at our cell phone, we said a prayer for our country?
Or, if each time we use our phone, we also text or call a homebound or lonely person to check on them and send wishes for a blessed day?
How about once a day, we set an alarm to remind us to pray for those in need and for world peace?
Or, when we’re doing a search on our phone, we look for an organization which focuses on helping those in need.
Can we use our phone to read a daily devotional, join a Bible study, or play soft Christian music during our time of meditation and prayer?
What if we took a daily five minute break from our cell phones to talk to God?
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know,” says the LORD. (Jeremiah 33:3)
Can you share other ways we can use our phone less and talk to God (and His people) more?
Katherine, I’ve made the same observations. Thanks for encouraging us to pray for our country – we might also pray for the person we’re texting too.
Great idea, Marilyn. Thank you for sharing. Wishing you a blessed day!
Katherine, you make some excellent suggestions. We all need to regularly evaluate how we use the tools we have, including cell phones.
Annie, I struggle to keep up with technology, but I know these new advances have benefitted us in so many ways. Finding balance in how we use technology is a key part of managing these rapid changes. Thank you for sharing your insight. I hope you week is filled with joy and blessings.
Excellent reminder of the need to pause and share time with God.
You sum up the point of my message exactly, Melissa. Thank you! Wishing you continued blessings.
I’ve taken all social media off my phone, and I put it on the other side of the room/house when I’m working or reading or talking to the hubster. My mother keeps hers on silent ALL the time so that she only gets texts when she wants to take a break and check her phone. It really helps! I’m thankful for cell phones, but we must be wise about how we use them.
Your strategies for handling the use of your cell phones are great, Priscilla. I don’t do social media on my phone either–I keep it for calls and texting only. That way I can manage social media on my computer when I choose. Thank you for sharing excellent ways to keep our phone from controlling our lives. Blessings!
Cell phones are great tools, but like all tools, we need to control them, not let them control us. Thanks for the reminder, Katherine.
I like the way you express your “right on target” advice, Diana. Our phone should be an important tool that we control–not a device that controls us. Thank you. I hope you’re having a good week.
Nothing makes you realize how much you are on the phone like getting your weekly report. Ugh! It’s a wake-up call. Do I spend the same amount of time in prayer? I do not. Thank you for another great article and the reminder that this is an area where we need to make the cell phone work for us, not against us when it comes to our time.
You’ve shared an excellent point, Laura–do we pray as often as we use our phone? If we were to spend as much time in pray, meditation, and Bible study as we do on our phone, how much stronger could our relationship with our Father be? Thank you for sharing your insights. Wishing you a great day!
Great article Winky!!! We need to make just as much time for God – reading and studying His Word and praying! Another idea would be to take time to get involved with a nonprofit organization such as GriefShare, Samaritan’s Purse, helping with a food giveaway, etc. We need to also make time for ourselves in meditation or join an exercise class or whatever you enjoy doing!!!
Such wonderful suggestions, Martha! Thank you! There are so many needs in our world–so many here at home. Finding ways to serve our community and God’s people in need world-wide means we’re acting as our Father’s hands here on Earth, serving His people. I’m so grateful you shared your thoughts here with us today. Blessings!
Our country does need our prayers. Not just now during a time of potential crisis, but always. I hear what you are saying about the cell phones. I only keep mine sitting close by because my family are all in other states and one is across the world. This is how we communicate. But I am not always looking at it, just close by in case it rings. Thanks for sharing with us!
Thank you for your prayers, Barbara. Our country needs all our prayers. I’m like you–I use my cell phone for communicating with family (although not across the world), and not for social media or google searches. Cell phones are useful and have benefitted us in many ways. But anything can become on obsession if we’re not careful. That’s what I worry about–many folks won’t know how to communicate face-to-face if we don’t practice actual conversation. Thank you for sharing your insights with us. Blessings!
Praying for our country to return to the Lord and to spend more time interacting with others in person so they can develop healthy relationships. Thanks Katherine
Thank you for your prayers, Yvonne. May God continue to bless your ministry of service to Him. Wishing you joy and peace (and cooler weather!)
A good life is all about balance, isn’t it? A cell phone is so useful and timesaving, and I probably do spend too much time on mine sometimes. Your suggestions to balance our device time with time spent building relationships with others, talking with God, and praying for others are great for our spiritual health.
Thank you for your encouragement, Candyce. Like most inventions, our cell phone is useful and helpful, but as we any object, overuse or becoming compulsive is harmful. As you remind us, “A good life is all about balance.” Wishing you joy and blessings!
Some good suggestions here. I’ve turned off email and social media notifications on my phone. That saves me from picking it up every time it dings at me.
That’s a great idea, LuAnn. We can’t do without technology, but we can take steps to keep it from ruling our lives. Blessings!
We are all so caught up with looking at cell phones or having some kind of media going all the time. It really bothers me when I go to a restaurant and see TV everywhere. I’ve decided people don’t want quiet because then they would have to stop long enough to actually focus on what’s going on around them and
Talk to God and listen to Him.
I’ve noticed how noisy restaurants are, too. I’ve heard people mention that they cannot handle silence in their house and always keep their TV on for noise. Sometimes, I’m really grateful for silence. I can hear and feel God when I’m outside. Nature’s sounds–wind, birds singing, the lovely sound of rain on a parched earth–God speaks to me through His creation. Your recommendation is wonderful and simple to follow–talk to God and listen–it’s sounds so easy, but how often do we take the time to sit and talk. Thank you for sharing with us. Blessings!