How Much Screen Time?

Are cell phones a luxury or a necessity? That answer of course might lie in the eye of the beholder. I get a notification on my cell phone once a week that might shed some light on that question. It tells me how much “screen time” I have invested over the previous week. Every minute I look at my phone, it keeps track of how much time I spend staring at that screen and obviously gives me the sum once a week. I never have paid much attention to knowing that pointless information, but that notification caught my attention the other day and it declared my total was four hours and twenty minutes. That’s not bad I didn’t think, because divided by seven days in the week that was only thirty-seven minutes a day. Cool, my phone is a necessity. Then I looked again and realized that was not for the whole week, but the daily average that week. Really? I spent over 25% of my waking hours on my phone? Bummer, now it becomes an awkward luxury.

What Am I Doing?

I recall placing judgment on other people who appear to be on their phone excessively. Are others watching me and thinking the same thing? That screen time is hijacking my attention by a magnetic draw to check an email, look at a Facebook feed, twitter, Google, or sending a text message. Connected to the world and everyone in it 24/7. Remember back in the day? Phones were for making phone calls. It makes me wonder what I did that four plus hours every day before “screen time”? I recognize God wants me to make good use of what time I have. Paul says in Ephesians 5:16 “Make the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Moses in Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3:1 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

I Get It Now

I dare not ask Siri what that means because I sheepishly know. The more I think about it, the more I wonder where my heart would guide me if I spent just half of my “screen time” every day serving Him, studying His Word, helping others in need, or praying. “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13). My heart needs updates, notifications, and downloads more often than my iPhone. These “App’s” (fruits of the Spirit) that I need to update are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… these and many more are not available through Apple, but through the Holy Spirit. Then my screen time would change my focus from worldly things to things pleasing to God. Now that my friend, is a necessity. “Dear Lord, help me make better use of my screen time and to use that time every day to turn my focus towards strengthening my heart with heavenly updates. In Jesus name, Amen.”