Redeeming the Time
Wasting time is not just a 21st-century problem. Even in the first century AD, some people were not making the best use of their time. We know this because Paul specifically warned the Ephesians about it.
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
Ephesians 5:15-18 (NKJV)
Following Paul’s command to redeem the time there are instructions on how to accomplish it: understand what the will of the Lord is, and be filled with the Spirit. Now that we know what is needed, how can we do these things?
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
We each need a transformed and renewed mind to know the will of the Lord. The only way we can have a transformed mind is by spending undistracted time reading the Word and in prayer. Our phones, tablets, computers, or anything else that prevents us from spending this vital time with God, will make it harder, or even impossible, to know God’s will.
The world has changed since Paul wrote Ephesians, but many things are still the same. Believers today may not struggle with alcohol, but we still must avoid drinking in the intoxicating spirits of the surrounding culture. This type of world drunkenness appears different from being drunk from alcohol, but the result is the same—a dulled mind toward the things of God. Our hearts still bend toward foolishness and drunkenness as much now as they did in the time of Paul.
To redeem the time, understand the will of the Lord, be filled with the Spirit, and renew our minds, it is clear that we need to focus on the things and God and disregard the things of the world. Our devices often work directly against this.
We each need a transformed and renewed mind to know the will of the Lord. The only way we can have a transformed mind is by spending undistracted time reading the Word and in prayer.
One of the most detrimental effects of smartphones and other devices is wasting time that should be spent doing worthwhile things. We all have a limited number of minutes each day. These precious minutes are easily frittered away on worthless online activities.
Be Aware of Screen Time
The first step toward reducing the amount of time you use your phone and other devices is to recognize how much time you are spending on them. Try to be aware of how much you use your phone when you are around others. You may be surprised how often you pull out your phone to distract yourself when there is a brief lull in the conversation.
To get a clear idea of how much time you use your devices, it can be helpful to enable the time-tracking apps built into many phones. Many Android phones have an app called Digital Wellbeing while all Apple devices have Screen Time. There are also free Android apps you can download such as Action Dash and Rescue Time to track your usage if your specific phone doesn’t have a built-in app.
These apps show a detailed view of how much time you spend on your phone and which apps and services you use the most. The many seconds and minutes we glance our phones during the day often add up to much more time than we realize. Simply tracking your usage for a few days will reveal if there is a problem.
Once you have a clearer idea of the apps and websites that are most distracting, you can start taking practical steps to reduce the amount of time you spend on them.
Delete Distractions
The first and easiest step to take is to delete distracting and time-wasting apps from your phone. If you feel like you must use an app or service for some things, you can usually access everything you will need using a computer. Removing those apps from the device you always have with you will go a long way in reducing the amount of time you spend on it.
There is often a distracting app you find yourself opening right after you pick up your phone. An easy way to reduce your usage of that app is to remove it from your home screen. The fact that you have to spend some time hunting for means that you won’t open it as often.
The best way to reduce distractions is to not always have your phone with you. Place your device in another room when you are doing your devotions or spending time with family or friends. Leave your phone in your vehicle when you visit others. With no phone to turn to, you will be more apt to engage with others and be more present with those relationships.
Turn Off Notifications
One of the main sources of digital distraction are the many notifications you receive each day. These noises or vibrations can distract you from what you are doing and can end up leading you down an internet rabbit trail. They might not seem like much, but those dings and buzzes can lead to continual distractions.
When you install a new app, it will often start sending you notifications you never asked for and that you don’t want. You should occasionally take some time to turn off the notifications on apps other than those for messaging and a few others you intentionally decide to let notify you.
Most phones have an option to automatically turn on Do Not Disturb mode during certain times. If you have your daily devotional period from 6:30-7:00 every morning, you
can set your phone so that only priority messages and calls will come through. Even better, leave your device in another room.
Fast From Technology
Fasting from distracting and time-wasting apps and services is an effective way to discipline yourself in your device usage. When you decide to not use something for a few weeks or months, you can clearly see how much of your time was being taken away from more profitable things.
It is good to have an alternate activity ready to fill the spare moments of the day that were previously filled with distraction. Prayer, reading a profitable book, or simply silence with your thoughts are all good uses of time that you might have previously spent on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.
Often the first few days or weeks will be difficult because your brain has been trained to crave distraction. Finally, the compulsion to always glance at your phone will fade and you might wonder why you felt you needed to always have your phone with you.
After the technology fast is over, take a few days to slowly reintroduce the apps and services you feel you get real value from. If you think you might fall into the same traps as before, you can access them using a web browser on a computer instead of on your phone. Since you won’t have the app on the device you carry with you, it will allow you to still use the service while reducing distractions and wasted time.
Purpose Of Technology
Technology is the application of scientific knowledge to benefit man. Cars, tractors, air conditioning, refrigerators, ovens, and phones have all been developed to make our lives better. In other words, the purpose of technology is to serve man. The sad fact is that the introduction of a new technology will often change our lives in ways we didn’t intend.
Occasionally we should step back from a new technology and ask ourselves some questions. Is this technology changing my behavior in ways that I don’t like? Are my devices hindering me from accomplishing my God-given responsibilities? Is this technology helping or hurting my relationship with God and my fellow man? Am I controlling my technology, or is it controlling me?