What do you grab first when you wake up in the morning? Your smartphone—or your Bible?
What about when you are bored? Is your first instinct to get on your phone?
If you’re casually sliding your phone under the table and feeling more than a little ashamed about how much time you’ve been spending with your phone, you’re not alone. According to one study, Americans check their phones 334 times per day. That’s every 4 minutes—day and night!
We’re obsessed! In fact, for many of us, our phones have become our gods.
The good news is that God has answers to our smartphone obsession. Here are five practical steps to begin using your smartphone as a valuable tool rather than as a god you worship.
Step One: Evaluate
“Ponder the path of your feet and let all your ways be established” (Proverbs 4:26).
The first step is to pay attention to what you are doing with your phone. How often do you pick it up? What apps are stealing your time? How many hours are you spending on your phone each day? There are many apps available that can track this data for you.
But God calls us to go beyond simply observing. He tells us to “ponder” or “weigh” our path. Prayerfully consider these questions to find out whether your phone might have become a god to you:
• Do I spend more time with my phone or with God?
• What do I turn to when bored, sad, or confused?
• What do I care about most: My “likes” on social media or the approval of Jesus?
• Am I honoring God in how I use my phone? Would I be happy to have Jesus look over my shoulder whenever I’m on my phone?
Step Two: Get Your Priorities Straight
“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death” (Proverbs 14:27).
To fear the Lord means to be in awe of Him. It means to admire, revere, and honor Him. To change how we interact with our phones, we must surrender everything to God and invite Him to be the Lord of our lives. Yes—that includes allowing Him to be in charge of your phone and what you do with it.
Step Three: Commit to Using Your Phone for God’s Honor
“Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established” (Proverbs 16:3).
Set some clear boundaries for yourself regarding your phone usage. Delete apps that are a temptation and set up time limits to help you curb your usage. Consider writing a contract between you and God regarding your goals and asking a godly friend to hold you accountable.
Step Four: Replace It with Something Better
“Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
Cutting back on your phone time will leave a vacuum in your life. Ask Jesus to fill that void with His love and presence. Be intentional about spending time with the Bible, other good books, and uplifting podcasts. As you do, you’ll find that your interests begin to change. The things of God will become more and more appealing.
Also, consider replacing time on your phone with healthy activities like serving others, connecting with friends, being outdoors, and pursuing God-honoring hobbies. These will give you positive connections and improve your relationships and mental health.
Step Five: Don’t Give Up!
“A righteous man may fall seven times and rise again” (Proverbs 24:16).
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand” (Psalm 37:23, 24).
Didn’t follow through on your commitment? Just wasted three hours on social media? Looked at a website with content that would make your mother blush? Don’t give up! Talk to God about it. Plead for His forgiveness and strength to persevere. Then get up and try again. God will be with you and hold your hand. Keep walking with Him, one step at a time toward victory.