EP 163: Wisely Navigating Our Technology

Inside: We’re exploring the benefits and challenges of our digital lives and walking through some practical tips to use our tech wisely and intentionally technology in a way that aligns with the gospel, enhances our walk with Christ, and doesn’t hinder it.

Wisely Navigating Our Technology

In today’s world, our smartphones have become almost indispensable. They keep us organized with calendars, to-do lists, and reminders. They keep us connected with family and friends through calls, texts, and social media. They entertain us with games, music, podcasts, and videos.

However, today’s discussion isn’t about getting rid of our smartphones; it’s about using them in a way that aligns with the gospel. Matthew 10:37 tells us that whoever loves anything more than Jesus is not worthy of Him. Our first desire must be to be wholly devoted to Jesus, ensuring that our smartphone use reflects that devotion. We need to be mindful of how our phones impact our spiritual lives, making sure they enhance rather than hinder our walk with Christ.

Listen In to EP 163: Wisely Navigating Our Technology (or read the post below):

Related Resources:

Free Library – Access the PDF Printable for this episode

50+ Things to Do Instead of Scrolling Social Media

EP 33: Is Your Smartphone Changing You

12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You by Tony Reinke

The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place by Andy Crouch

Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport

Twelve Tips for Parenting in the Digital Age @Desiring God

Why Not to Check Your Phone in the Morning @Desiring God

The Benefits of Technology:

We live in a world where our phones are with us all the time. I really appreciate all the things my phone does for me: it keeps my calendar and to-do list, grocery list, messages, and phone calls all in one place. I can listen to sermons, podcasts, audiobooks, and music. I can track my family with Life 360 and know when they’re almost home, which brings me peace of mind. It helps me track my exercise and movement, keep a food log, and navigate new destinations without pulling out a paper map or an atlas.

I can manage my bank account, pay bills, and quickly look up the contact information of church members. I can play Wordle with my granddaughter. Paying at the grocery store has never been easier, and I love being able to take photos, organize them into albums, and share moments with my loved ones. Plus, it allows me to interact with all of you, which is such a blessing.

I can read my Bible from anywhere if I have my device, listen to a sermon or edifying podcast, easily add a prayer request to my prayer app so I don’t forget to pray for that person, work on my scripture memory, and read books on it with the Kindle app.

There are so many good and helpful things these little computers we carry can help us do. So, while I may seem to be focusing a bit more on the negative aspects in this article as we move forward, I did want to acknowledge that there are many positives in how technology helps us in so many ways. There are conveniences and connections I’m personally very thankful for, and I believe it’s important to recognize the good along with the challenges.

The Distractions of Technology:

Then, we have the flipside: the distractions. Our phones constantly draw us in with social media and news apps. We feel the need to keep checking for emails, Facebook likes, or messages. You can easily open the Instagram or Facebook app on your phone to check the feed and realize you’ve been scrolling for 15 minutes or more—this can add up to quite a bit of time in a day.

Years ago, people could only reach us at home through a phone attached to the wall. There was no email or text messaging; you had to talk by phone, in person, or write a letter. If you didn’t have an answering machine—and I know growing up we didn’t—so you didn’t know you missed a call if you weren’t home. We also didn’t have 24-hour news, only during certain times of the day. Or you read the daily newspaper.

I sometimes miss what I like to think of as “those simpler days.” I don’t know if they truly were, but I tend to picture them that way.

Our phones, computers, and tablets can be distractions from our prayer life and Bible reading. Notifications can be distracting, and there is the temptation that as we’re reading our Bible on our tablet or our phones, it can be easy to get bored, or you just don’t feel like thinking so hard, or your mind wanders and you switch to checking email or heading to social media. Those activities are easier for our brains to process.

Our priorities may become out of whack when spiritual disciplines take a back seat to these digital distractions.

Our time on social media can lead us to compare and envy. We may focus on what others have and lose sight of the blessings we have from the Lord.

If digital communication is how you primarily interact with others, it’s going to hinder your in-person relationships and the depth and quality of your time with them. You may have many more connections because of social media, but they will be of lower quality and will not have the depth that in-person relationships can foster.

There is so much information online, and even seemingly good resources can make it hard to discern truth from error at times. The knowledge we take in from small bites of information as we skim articles and scroll will give us a superficial understanding of issues, and we will begin to lose how to think deeply and critically.

I can keep going here, but let me bullet point a few more:

• Depending on your usage, it can be an interruption to sleep when we find ourselves using our devices late at night.
• Interaction online can make us more prone to sin with responses that aren’t covered in grace and truth and where we’re not seeking to love the other person. Maybe we’re forgetting it’s a real flesh and blood person we’re responding to in a harsh way. It’s much harder to correct or challenge someone in person than it is online. Responses tend to be much harsher and less patiently thought out online, while they are often gentler in person.
• Constant intake of information can prevent us from being fully present in the moment, and this can happen even during the dinner table, family worship time, or our own time alone with the Lord.
• We can fall into the trap of pleasing others instead of pleasing the Lord by looking to our likes, comments, and followers—where we find our sense of worth—and our social media can become a form of idolatry.
• Also, being reachable anywhere and anytime can become stressful and intrusive.

Personal and Family Technology Use:

We’re not just concerned about ourselves but also about how we’re conditioning our kids or grandkids. This affects all ages. It’s easy to get caught up in our smartphones, even with good things we’re listening to or reading. How can we better manage our technology use within our families?

How often do we find ourselves scrolling through social media when we should be doing chores, reading to our kids, or spending time in the Word or prayer?

I appreciated Andy Crouch’s book, The Tech-Wise Family; it offered practical and thoughtful guidance. It provided many insights to help us navigate technology more effectively within our households. Here are some of my key takeaways from the book:

• Establish clear guidelines for how technology is used in your home. You may set specific times for device use, TV viewing, and video game play. You want your technology to serve your family’s values and not detract from them.
• Create tech-free zones—designate certain areas of your home that are tech-free. This might be the kitchen table, dining room, or bedrooms. We want to promote good conversation at the dinner table, void of distractions, and we want our bedrooms to foster a restful environment.
• Modeling Behavior: As parents or guardians, our actions speak louder than words. Demonstrate responsible and balanced technology use to set an example for your children.
• Encouraging Creativity: Promote activities that foster creativity and physical engagement, such as reading, playing board games, and spending time outdoors. This helps to balance their intake of digital content.
• Digital Sabbaths: Implement regular tech-free periods, like a digital Sabbath, where the entire family takes a break from screens to reconnect with each other and engage in non-digital activities. Maybe you do this every Sunday, monthly, quarterly, or on family vacations. If your older kids want to share their vacation photos with friends on social media, they can always do it when you return.
• Open Conversations: Maintain an open dialogue about technology use, discussing its benefits and potential pitfalls. Encourage your children to share their experiences and challenges with technology, and you share yours.

Good and Bad of Social Media:

Being connected is part of how God designed us, and technology, including social media, allows us to connect in so many wonderful ways. When our daughter lived in Norway, I was so thankful for Skype because it allowed us to see and connect with her and her family. I love our time together in our Patreon group on Zoom because we can see, connect, and learn more about each other. Social media and online platforms offer countless opportunities to learn and access educational content and resources. I deeply appreciate finding solid content to read or listen to, and there are countless resources that enrich my walk with the Lord. Through social media, I can share encouraging messages, stay updated on prayer requests, and participate in online Bible studies and discussions with believers from all over the world that strengthen and encourage me in my walk with the Lord. These tools, when used wisely, can truly be a blessing.

However, social media can sometimes make us reflexive rather than reflective. It’s easy to quickly judge posts, deciding whether to like or reject them without much thought. We need to engage intentionally and invest time in others. Online interactions should supplement, not replace, our in-person relationships. Relying too heavily on social media as our primary source of connection can leave us feeling lonely or isolated—it will never replace the warmth and authenticity of face-to-face interactions. Plus, it can distract us from important tasks like spending quality time with family and friends and completing our daily responsibilities.

We need to remember that while technology offers many benefits, it also presents challenges. As Christians, using these tools wisely ensures they enhance rather than hinder our relationships with God and others. By being intentional about our technology use, we can enjoy its benefits while maintaining a balanced and reflective approach.

Biblical Literacy:

Tony Reinke states that smartphone use doesn’t make us illiterate but aliterate—or we’re able to read, but we’re just not willing to do it, to invest the time in it. He shares that we grow lazy in our literacy and powers of concentration.

We are to be people of the book, so as Christians, our Bible is the oldest and longest book we’ve ever read. It’s complex, has the most authors we’ll ever read in one book, and is all under the inspiration of the Spirit. It can be daunting, but it is a book we need to take the time to read and comprehend slowly.

One term Jesus uses repeatedly in the scriptures is “Have you not read?” We have our Bibles—multiple copies—and they are on our devices, but have we comprehended them? Have we meditated on what they say and thought deeply?

Tony stated in his book that Spirit-wrought literacy is a supernatural gift given to us so that we can see invisible things. To do this, we have to cultivate literacy. When we lose our literacy, we lose the “substance of things hoped for.” And hope is a confidence in things unseen—think Hebrews 11:1—so we are trying to see things we can’t see with our eyes. It requires literacy and concentration, as well as seeing as God sees and not as man sees. We need to not allow spiritual hardening to happen. God wants us to see through all that man sees. We can see what’s on a screen or the media we’re surrounded with, but God wants us to see through all that and see the eternal glories.

So, let’s strive to nurture our spiritual literacy, allowing us to see beyond the visible and focus on the eternal glories God wants us to perceive. By doing this, we align our perspective with God’s and maintain a deeper, more meaningful connection with Him. We can’t allow our smartphone use to replace or diminish our time with the Lord in His Word and meditating on His truths. If we’re deficient here, we will have issues in all areas of our lives, not just our smartphone use.

Charles Spurgeon said—and he was before the smartphone era by a lot, lol—“If Satan can disrupt your devotions, he can disrupt your day.“

How often do we wake up to meet with God, and the first thing we grab, maybe even before coffee, is our phone? I’m guilty, and I regret it every time I do it. Nothing good comes from it, and my affections can easily get drawn to it.

It is much easier to glance at my email or scroll through Instagram instead of reading my Bible, which requires effort, work, and concentration.

Some studies have shown that if your smartphone is within your reach, a part of your brain is constantly saying—should I check my phone??

One statistic, which was the highest number, said that the average smartphone user checks their phone every 4.3 minutes. Some say more than 85 times a day, and this isn’t true of everyone, but it is a lot more than we should be doing.

So, at least in the morning, make sure you’ve separated yourself from your phone or anything else that could easily come between you and your time with the Lord.

Your quiet time still counts if you do it without taking a photo and posting it on Facebook.

In one of his Ask Pastor John episodes, John Piper discussed why we might check our phones first thing in the morning and the possible consequences.

“We may want a boost to our ego to see how many ‘likes’ we got on a Facebook status. It is a quick way to avoid responsibility or the hardships we have to deal with in getting our day started. Sometimes, it’s the desire to be mindlessly entertained instead of engaging my mind.”

“What if I check my phone first thing in the morning, and I am the first one to come across some bad news in my email? Or what if on Facebook, instead of ‘likes’, I find hateful comments on a status? I’ve not even taken the time in the morning to be prepared for the battle! Was that 5 minutes of me checking my phone worth being dragged down to small-minded things?”

“But what are the benefits of seeking the Lord first thing?”

“When you wake up in the morning, may it start first with a cry out to the Lord. Let Him know you love Him and need His help. Do this before you pick your head off the pillow.”

“O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.”

~ Psalm 5:3

Take the time the night before to set out your reading materials in the morning. (See EP 95: Developing a Daily Bible Reading Habit)

The Benefits of Starting Your Day with the Lord and Not Your Phone:

• You’re strengthened in the Lord for whatever the day may bring.
• You have not wasted precious time given to you by the Lord, and it is more freeing to check that phone after you have prioritized and put the important things first.
• After sitting at His feet first thing in the morning, you are reminded how your Heavenly Father cares and loves you. Jesus is enough. Hearing Him speak to you through His Word will be a sweet reminder all through the rest of your day.

Spurgeon said it best:

“It is a good rule never to look into the face of a man in the morning till you have looked into the face of God.“

Litmus Tests for Technology Use:

Ask your spouse or children about your phone habits—tell them they can be brutally honest. Consider what God has called you to do in your family, church, work, school, and community. Determine your responsibilities, and you’ll see what’s a waste of time and what’s not.

Without direction, our smartphones can fill a void in our lives, becoming idols. They can expose our heart’s desires—seeking approval, being liked, or appearing intelligent. Ask yourself, “How am I influencing others, and why? Is it for me or someone else?”

Self-Reflection Questions from Tony Reinke

• Ends: Do my smartphone behaviors move me toward God or away from Him?
• Influence: Do my smartphone behaviors edify me and others, or do they build nothing of lasting value?
• Servitude: Do my smartphone behaviors expose my freedom in Christ or my bondage to technology?

I did list those as part of that PDF printout (in the free library) along with these 12 boundaries below.

Practical Tips:

In Tony Reinke’s book, he provided 12 boundaries to consider in using our smartphones:

1. Turn off non-essential push notifications.
2. Delete expired, non-essential, and time-wasting apps. I’m adding to that unsubscribe from app services you don’t use anymore—that can be a huge money savings each month.
3. Keep your phone out of the bedroom at night.
4. Use a real alarm clock, not your phone alarm.
5. Guard your morning and evening routines by muting notifications an hour before bed and until you’ve finished your morning disciplines.
6. Use self-restricting apps to limit your smartphone functions. I know for me on the iPhone I can use the screen time feature to do this.
7. Respond to emails and messages at strategic points during the day.
8. Invite feedback on your phone habits from your spouse, friends, and family.
9. Keep your phone out of sight during meals.
10. Leave your phone in a drawer, car, or power it off during family time, church, or with friends.
11. Take regular digital detoxes to recalibrate your priorities.
12. Evaluate your practices based on the positive and negative impacts.

Utilize screen time tracking apps to see where you’re spending your time. Consider turning off the color on your phone to make it less appealing. Set downtimes for your phone to avoid distractions during certain hours.

Cal Newport

Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism—not a Christian book—offered some practical guidance on managing your phone so it supports rather than distracts from your quality of life.

He suggested taking a 30-day break from optional technologies—a digital declutter—so delete various apps, social media, and websites that are optional. He encouraged you to explore and discover offline activities that bring you joy and satisfaction during this time. Then, after 30 days, he suggested carefully reintroducing only the technologies that substantially benefit your life.

My Personal Plan:

I am very plugged into technology—I really like it as a help to my day in so many ways.

I want to be intentional in this use and implement guards on my social media and technology use that can help me keep my focus on my priorities. I want to focus on my walk with the Lord, my family, and all the other responsibilities. I don’t feel addicted to it, and I have had breaks from it. I enjoy that time away a lot, but I’m still working through what it looks like for my blog. I know I’ve discussed that here before.

Tony Reinke’s book, 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You, and Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism helped me put together a plan and set boundaries for my tech use. I needed to sit and clarify why I used it. Personally, I think Facebook has been a nice way to connect with long-distance family and friends—I love seeing photos of what they’re up to. Messaging makes it nice to connect, too.

I enjoy tech for things like podcasts and sermons, and I appreciate the apps that help me manage my calendar and tasks. Learning online with various courses and Bible apps are areas I’ve benefitted from—my husband is my news source for the most part—I’m not a news app person unless Babylon Bee counts, lol—but I do like to listen to Albert Mohler’s The Briefing when there are certain events I’d like to be a bit more informed about coming from a Christian worldview. I like my Apple Watch, which helps me keep track of my fitness goals and check the weather. Audiobooks and Spotify are almost a daily part of my life.

For the blog, it has been a help in engaging with my listeners and readers. It’s a way for me to share current and past blog and podcast episodes. I always hope to encourage and point others to Christ in what I share, from quotes to all my other content. I’ve enjoyed building our Patreon community and spending time with the ladies on Zoom calls. In the past, we’ve studied books of the Bible, had book fellowship meetings, and just talked about various aspects of our lives as homemakers to encourage and share ideas.

So, for me to be intentional and set some boundaries for my tech use, here are some things I’d like to implement:

• I will not use my phone until after I have spent time in the Word, so I will not email or check social media until I have spent time in the Word, worked on scripture memory, had prayer time, and planned my day.
• In the evenings, before bed, I can only read a physical book or my Kindle.
• We don’t allow phones at the dining table, and I don’t keep my phone in my bedroom but leave it in the kitchen, and it goes into “Do Not Disturb mode” from 8 pm to 8 am. I do use my watch as my alarm if I need one.
• I am setting time to get online and check email and social media for 15-30 minutes later in the morning and later in the afternoon—so I’m shooting for twice daily. Until this becomes a habit, I’ll probably set the alarm on my watch to let me know when it’s time to check-in.
• I want to avoid email and social media on Sundays, and I won’t post online for Thankful Homemaker on those days, either.
• I did an app audit on my phone and tablet and eliminated apps I didn’t need. I made sure I unsubscribed to services I don’t use anymore. I removed my social media apps from my phone and left them on my tablet for now. My tablet doesn’t usually leave the house, but they may be removed there, too—I need to see how this works for now.
• I’ve simplified the home screen on my phone to display the most important apps I use, and I turned off all notifications except phone calls and text messages. I also updated my favorites list so that when I have “Do not disturb on,” I can still get calls and messages from my immediate family members.

Instead of relying on social media to be updated when my favorite bloggers and podcasters put up new content, I subscribe to podcasts on Apple Podcasts—it’s where I listen in. I use an app called Reader that brings all my online reading into one place, including blog posts, email newsletters, and RSS feeds, and I can put PDFs in there. So, when I’m ready to catch up on articles, I just open the app, and it’s all there, ready for me to sort through—it’s how I save articles to share in my monthly newsletter. It works similarly to apps like Pocket and Instapaper.

I’d love to encourage you, if you’re a regular listener here, to make sure you subscribe to the podcast on whatever podcast catcher app you use and that you subscribe to the blog so you don’t have to rely on social media to see when I have a new episode or post up—you get access to the free library of resources and printables and you get my monthly or bi-monthly newsletter filled with devotionals, practical tips, and encouraging articles to enrich your walk with the Lord.

I need to review this and evaluate how I’m doing regularly.

Why am I doing this and why am I doing this episode to share with you? Because we need to master our technology so it doesn’t master us.

Conclusion:

Our technology is a gift, but we need to use it with care and discipline. John Piper said, “These digital tools are a treasure chest of the glories of God.”

Closing with Tony’s words:

“We cannot marvel at technology by abusing it. True wonder requires humility. Wonder is the special joy of God reserved for those who have become childlike and humbled under the awe of a divine Father. In humility, we become ‘wonderers,’ freed from secular disenchantment, from commercially driven promises that materialism cannot deliver, and from temporal entrapments in order to more clearly behold God’s glory in and through our technology.”

I so love that quote. It is such a profound reminder that true wonder requires humility. As we navigate our use of technology, let’s strive to approach it with a childlike awe and a heart grounded in humility. By doing so, we free ourselves from the distractions and false promises of materialism, allowing us to see and use technology as a tool to behold and share God’s glory. Let’s be intentional, mindful, and Christ-centered in our tech habits, always seeking to honor Him in all that we do.

Jesus truly is enough always.