grayscale photo of boy holding smartphone

Help Me Rest, Not Scroll

grayscale photo of boy holding smartphone
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This entry encourages disconnecting from distraction and reconnecting with the peace of God.

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2, NIV). 

SOMETHING TO PONDER

I was sixteen when social media was introduced to me. Though my parents waited until this age to “gift” me with my first cell phone, I quickly realized I wasn’t missing much. 

After creating a Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and Instagram account, I was enthralled. I would spend hours scrolling until I’d “caught up for the day,” and researching the latest trends. I knew who liked who, where they went for vacation, and how they maintained their six-pack. And yet, at the end of the day, I felt a deep void inside. Empty, hollow, aching. 

Today, I think most of us know that social media only shows the highlights. But how quickly does a five-minute scroll leave us comparing our lives to someone else? I know I’m guilty of this time and time again. This digital medium isn’t bad in and of itself. It’s a gift to be able to see what friends and family are doing all over the world. But when we start to become complacent with where we are because of what someone else has, I’m afraid we have a problem. Instead of being content, we become complacent. And instead of being satisfied, we become empty. 

In Colossians 3:2, the Apostle Paul reminds us to watch what we fill our eyes, ears, and hearts with. He tells us to set our minds not on earthly things, but on things above. Heavenly things that cannot be taken away from us. 

What does this practically look like?

Setting our minds on things above means placing a higher emphasis on spiritual truths rather than fleeting pleasures. It looks like pursuing love, truth, and righteousness over more stuff. It means pursuing the fruits of the Spirit and God’s Word above vegging out on Netflix or numbing ourselves with unhealthy habits. 

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