Every Monday morning at approximately 9.15am I receive a notification on my mobile phone which shows me the average amount of time per day I have spent on it during the last seven days. The notification compares that with the previous seven days, so I have a week-on-week comparison. Additionally, it contains a bar chart showing my daily use and lists the three apps I have used the most in the last seven days. There have been numerous occasions where I have looked at the notification and felt embarrassed at the amount of time, I have spent on the phone during the last seven days. It is not unusual for me to vow to myself that I need to address this, but it is still a work in progress for me!
Whilst mobile phones are particularly useful, it is sad to see so many of us who seem outwardly to be addicted to our mobile phone. The following examples spring to mind:
- Young mothers, out with their children, just staring at their phones rather than interacting with their children.
- People walking their dogs and glued to their phones.
- When people are waiting outside public toilets for family and friends, invariably they will be looking at their phones.
- Friends and family sitting in a pub or restaurant and gazing at their phone rather than speaking to their companions.
Now obviously, there may be occasions where people are awaiting urgent communication from someone, and it is right for them to be closely monitoring their phones. However, if we are being honest, we do not normally need to be constantly staring at our phone. There are certainly better things that we could do with our time. I very much doubt if there are many people who on their deathbed express regret about not spending enough time on their phone during their life!
How do we therefore tackle our mobile phone addiction?
In Galatians 5:22-23 Paul lists the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the final one he mentions is self-control. I know from a personal perspective that there are times when I could read a chapter in a book instead of scrolling through my phone. On those occasions I need to respond to promptings from God to exercise self-control, thus making better use of my time. It is not actually difficult to pick up a book rather than a phone. However, I will need to have the discipline to exercise self-control. There will be times when it is a struggle and a battle, but God has provided the means to assist us in this.
I close with a prayer from Psalm 90:12 which we might find helpful:
“Teach us to number our days, that we might gain a heart of wisdom.”
Still Learning 