I caught myself doing it again this morning...
Waking with intentions of having a quiet time, but instead finding myself caught in the tangled world wide web of Pinterest. Yes, Pinterest - instead of starting my day with Jesus.
I wake early for Him. I make coffee to sit with Him. I grab my Bible to read about Him. I open my computer to blog about Him, but without warning or reason, I open a second window and start to Pin. But nothing about Him.
Social media could be the death of quiet times as we know them if we aren't careful.
Tweeting and pinning are fierce competitors for mental space and spiritual depth. It takes discipline to refrain from my Pinterest tab. It takes self-control to focus on the Word instead of pinning a brand-new wardrobe.
Am I alone in this? Am I the only one admiring the winter-white sweaters paired with chocolate leggings? Or the tall boots and the auburn scarf? Mmm...Or how about the FIVE FAB FREEZER meals? Or the Simple Christmas Mantel? Or the Treadmill Workout With Intervals? What about the ... and the .... or that ... Geez. See how easily I get wrapped up?
Reader, now hear me right. I am NOT saying social media is the devil.
We are not wrong to surf, subscribe, or pin to our heart's desire. But I foresee a pattern of stunted spiritual growth if these things aren't kept in their place, if my morning priorities kept in order.
Let your eyes look directly forward and your gaze be straight before you. Proverbs 4:25
Lord, what does this look like in the land of flashing screens?
God's Word instructs us to keep our gaze single-minded and directly forward. The Message translates this Proverb as,
"Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions."
Confession: Social media is the sideshow distraction in my life.
Would you believe that WHILE I HAVE BEEN TYPING THIS POST I have deterred away at least five times....once to Pinterest for a quick teacher gift idea, once to Old Navy because of the $10 Rock Star jeans notification in my email, once to BibleGateway.com for a translation, once to my Pandora screen to double-check a song title, and finally to Facebook because of a comment on my status.
"Put your gaze straight before you."
It gets worse...
Currently, one son is playing Minion Rush on my iPad. My iPhone is chiming to inform me that Charles Spurgeon and The Children's Place sent an email. My ten-year-old just woke and is playing DSi (which is not allowed, but I am ignoring him in order to finish this post). For Christmas this year I asked for a recipe stand to hold my iPad, a safety cover for my Macbook and gray Uggs {which aren't media related, but I am hoping the husband is reading}.
"Ignore all sideshow distractions."
Ugg. I mean Ugh. It is tempting to beat myself up right now. Mommy failure. Writer failure. Christian failure. But I'm not a failure! I am just a living testimony of what I believe so many of us are facing - Spiritual Growth Sabotage.
The reality is this is the world wide web we live in and we must use great intentionality to keep the most important thing the Most Important Thing.
The extremist in me wants to shut it all down and live like Laura Ingalls. But I know this isn't the answer. God has called me to write a blog. Our culture shops Amazon and eBay. I have an online business and an addiction to Blue Letter Bible. And although an occasional sabbatical from media is a great thing, I must wrestle with Pinterest and win. My quiet time must win!
Today, I take heed of the Holy Spirit and confess media distracts my Christian maturity.
And it will stunt my growth if I let it.
It will stunt your growth if you let it.
Take that one to the online bank.
SO WHAT DO WE DO?
I find a solution in the red letters of Matthew 7:
Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life - to God! - is vigorous and requires total attention.
Matthew 7:13-14 The Message
THE MARKET IS FLOODED WITH EASYGOING FORMULAS. Isn't that the Truth!?
Don't get me wrong... I am a huge fan of online sermons, blog devotionals, Internet study guides, and Bible Gateway...but I must never let these replace a vigorous and intentional study of Scripture or time in the Presence of God. He requires (and deserves) my TOTAL ATTENTION.
For no keypad I cradle holds a candle to the leather-bound Word in my hands.
No chime of a phone substitutes the turning, thin pages of Scripture.
A podcast will never replace the inaudible voice of God I hear in prayer.
So Pinterest, we aren't breaking up. I need you still. I don't know how to dress, cook, or decorate my mantel alone.
But my early morning coffee date is set and my gaze is straight before me. Let us avoid the sideshow distraction and give our vigorous and total INTEREST to the One who dresses me in an array of Splendor. The ultimate creator of Pins and Pandora. For in the ever-changing world of flashing screens, He is the trend that is always the same - yesterday, today, and forevermore.
Becky Crenshaw lives in Tennessee with her husband Brent and three football-crazed, little boys. She is a writer/speaker with an insatiable desire to ignite passion for Christ in the hearts of her audience. She invites you for morning coffee over at her blog, The Word of God and a Cup of Joe where she pours out her heart and seeks a life of overflow.
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