DeActivate – free
Your Mind
January 24, 2014
My first day after deactivating Facebook is, simply
put—strange. I keep picking up my phone
to scroll through ‘New Stories’ or see if anyone ‘Likes’ the photo I recently
uploaded. Has anyone ‘Commented’ on the
post I commented on earlier? Oh,
wait…the Facebook App is GONE. What
should I do? My mind is a jumble of
activity, almost buzzing. I feel like
someone who has just given up smoking or drinking—COLD TURKEY. Physically I am a little bit shaky. Not good!!
I know the only way to get through this is with the Lord, so I am
speaking out loud Philippian’s 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me”.
I have to admit, I am very surprised by how addicted I have
become to Facebook. It’s become a
physical “need”. It does something to my
brain, that I have a need to repeat every 20 minutes or so, but if I really
want to be honest it’s more like every other minute. What is going on here? I think I’m a pretty average person, so
surely I’m not the only one experiencing this.
Right?
The really scary thing for me, as a Christian, is that I
start each day reading my Bible (renewing my mind) and spending time with the
Lord in prayer. Romans 12:2 says, “Do
not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able
to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”. However, after taking the kids to school, I
would turn to Facebook to see what I’ve missed since the night before. As I think about this and ponder “Why”, I
realize I have experienced, via Facebook, every emotion the Bible says to get
rid of in Ephesians 4:31 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling
and slander, along with every form of malice.”
I admit, I had to look up malice.
Malice is a desire to harm others or to see others suffer; extreme ill
will or spite. CHECK!
I also experienced the occasional envy and jealously when my
“friends” posted pics of their fabulous trips, kids, husbands, dogs, cats,
family members and so on.
All of these negative emotions are running around in my head
and I have the desire for more? Trust me
when I say Facebook is NOT a cure for insomnia.
Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as
unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are
evil”. For me, looking at Facebook every
other minute is not making the most of every opportunity.
I Thessalonians 4:11 says,
“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to
work with your hands, just as we told you…”
I don’t think it needs to be said that Facebook is about everybody’s
business and definitely not working with my hands. I should be able to get the laundry and
dishes done more efficiently now that my phone is not constantly in my hand.
Maybe it is simply the Holy Spirit reinforcing II Corinthians
6:17 “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.” Chapter 7:1
says…”let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and
spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
There is so much more to be said on the subject of social
media and the attention it takes away from our marriages, children, friends,
pets and even the upkeep of our homes.
To be continued…
April 6th
Facebook free for over 2 months! Whoo-hoo!!
My mind is much clearer and my focus has returned to my home. Titus 2:3-5 tells us to be busy at home. Scrolling Facebook does not qualify as “busy
at home”. In fact, it is the exact
opposite. Proverbs 31:27 says “She looks
well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness”. Idleness=Bread? Huh?
I've never looked at it that way.
We all love bread, but too much is never a good thing. Isn’t there a Gluten-free craze in our
society?
June 2nd
It’s been a little more than 4 months since getting off
Facebook. The “need “for it is
completely gone. I do miss the occasional
pictures of cousin’s babies, nieces and nephews and reading about my brother’s
love for all things bacon. I feel a
slight disconnect with certain groups of friends. What I have discovered is texting or actually
picking up the phone to call and talk to a friend eliminates the disconnect,
and I feel it’s a win-win for me and my friend.
Even when I was on Facebook and involved in everybody’s business, but my
own, I still felt disconnected and lonely at the end of the day. We do need
friends. Ecclesiastes 4:10 tells us, “If
one falls down, his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”
The best person to “friend” is Jesus and his book is The
Holy Bible. Turn your face to Him, read
it, speak it and spend time in prayer.
It’s the only way to find peace……then share it with someone else. Maybe
one of your friends?
Gindy
Villarreal
aka:
mamapossum
