By Shenalyn Page
Ready to do something bold this summer that will push the reset button on your life and your walk with God? Try a media fast!
A media fast means cutting all TV, social media, YouTube, video games, music, and movies out of your life for a specified period of time.
That’s a pretty big ask! Is it even possible?
Paul, a 22-year-old missionary filmmaker, and his friends think so. Richard, Matthew, and Leilani joined Paul in a month-long media fast last year. “We got off social media and put our iPhones in a lock box,” Paul says. “Halfway through the month, we locked up our laptops too.”
What did they do instead? “We had a lot of fun and felt very free,” says Paul. “We were constantly outside. We got flip phones, spent time hanging out with friends at the skate park, and took pottery classes. We actually talked to people.”
Why Do a Media Fast?
“We wanted to figure out if there was more to life than the Internet and social media,” Paul explains. “We were all struggling with things. Matthew and Leilani were always on Instagram, and it was really bogging them down. I live alone, so I listened to music and podcasts and watched movies a lot to drown out my loneliness. We realized we needed a break.”
Do you need a break too? Here are three biblical reasons to do a media fast:
1. Eliminate distractions so you can tune in to God: When Jesus was about to begin His public ministry, He spent forty days fasting in the wilderness. He wasn’t doing a media fast, but He was intentionally taking Himself out of the stream of life so that He could focus on His mission. Other Bible heroes fasted when they needed to tune in to God too. Moses fasted on Mount Sinai while he was receiving the Ten Commandments and instructions for the wilderness sanctuary. Esther and her fellow Jews fasted and prayed for God’s protection. Doing a media fast will give you a chance to tune in to the gentle voice of your heavenly Father.
“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
2. Break Up with Evil: Media often serves as an entry point for destructive habits. Pornography; spiritually deceptive films, shows, and videos; and excessive video game entertainment (and all games that glorify violence and immoral living)—these all come to us through media. A media fast will help you cut these evils out of your life entirely. No halfway here! The only way to overcome these sins is to surrender completely to God and make an absolute commitment to pursuing purity of mind and heart.
“I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;… it shall not cling to me. … I will not know wickedness” (Psalm 101:3, 4).
3. Build Healthy, God-honoring Media Habits: It is possible to interact with media in a way that will help you grow toward God instead of away from Him. Taking a full-stop break for a time will allow you to prayerfully choose new, helpful media habits. Intentionality is key here.
“Cease to do evil, learn to do good” (Isaiah 1:16, 17).
How to Do a Media Fast
Choosing to do a media fast is not for the faint of heart. But there are ways to make it easier and more productive.
Start by asking God how long you should fast. A 21-day fast is a good place to start. Consider also how you’ll fast. Will you lock your phone away? Or simply delete/block apps that are problematic for you? What about your computer? You may need it for school or work, but how can you put parameters on your usage so that it doesn’t run your life? What specific limits do YOU need to make sure you accomplish your goal? Pray about this!
Invite your friends to join you. You’ll be a lot more likely to succeed, and your example might even help them get control of their media habit too.
Make sure to replace the time you would normally be spending consuming media with positive, life-giving activities. Get outside, take a class, make a new friend, or find a way to serve others.
Most important, lean fully on your heavenly Father’s strength and love. If you are determined to develop new, godly habits of media usage, God will work “in you both to will and to do His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). He will transform your desires and give you the courage to change.
“It was totally worth it,” says Paul. “I realized that media was filling a hole in my heart that was designed for God. Taking a break put things in perspective and gave me time to listen to the Holy Spirit. Your struggles may not be the same as mine, but you’ll find so many benefits from doing a media fast.”