Screens vs. the Savior: An Honest Battle with Technology

Sarah Annie Schneider: Welcome to the Addicted to God podcast. I'm your host, Sarah Schneider, and I am addicted to God. Welcome, everyone. This podcast is for people who are feeling tired, defeated, overwhelmed, or discouraged. People who desperately want a real relationship with God, but aren't sure where to start or how to make it stick. Not just for today, but for life. For over 10 years, I have had the honor of mentoring women in our local jail. That's exactly where the Addicted to God movement was born. So many of these women carried destructive addictions that had taken everything from them, their freedom, their families, their hope, and even a sense of their self-worth. The ones who experienced real lasting transformation weren't the ones who just tried harder to quit. They were the ones who learned how to transfer those addictions, to take that same intense hunger and drive and replace it with a lifelong pursuit. and deep love for God and His Word. But here's what inspired this podcast and the entire Addicted to God movement. The biggest barrier most of them faced wasn't that they didn't want to change. It was that they simply didn't know where to start. That's why we're here, together. This podcast is your practical introduction to understanding God's Word, what it really means to follow Jesus, and how to apply it to your everyday life. especially in the areas where you feel weakest or are the most stuck. Today, I'm going to get real honest with you about an addiction I'm personally wrestling with, technology. I'm talking about screens, email, Facebook marketplace, Instagram, X, Haystack, threads, app games, texting, YouTubes, podcasts, you name it. I'm the girl who cannot stand those little red notification badges. It's like a constant game of whack-a-mole. One unread email, your one daily points are waiting, or the person who tagged me and I feel this pull to pick it up just for a second. And here's the tension. And this is what I want to talk to you about today. I'm not against technology. In fact, I use it every single day for good. I host a YouTube channel. I post on social media to get the Addicted to God message into the hearts to those who need it. To bring hope. I'm working hard on becoming an author and a speaker for the kingdom. So I'm not here to say throw your phone away or even make a bold claim that all technology is bad. Even God doesn't forbid it. It can be useful and good. It can educate us, connect us, share powerful testimonies and even help us learn a new skill. I'm about 570 days into learning Spanish on Duolingo. I'm nowhere near being fluent in it, but I recognize some words now and it's on my bucket list. And it's a goal that I'm just taking bit by bit, one day at a time. But the problem comes when it starts costing me what matters most, my time with Jesus, my presence with my husband and daughters, deep conversations with friends, or even my focus at work. Then that's the point when it becomes dangerous and it crosses a dangerous line. This is a tension. I feel every single day. And I'm just going to be honest about it. I do love my family more than anything. And yet I've caught myself scrolling while my daughters are telling me about their day or something going on in their lives. I've sat at the dinner table or at a restaurant with my husband and realizing I'm only half listening because I'm mentally wandering into the social media stream or wondering if that text I sent got a reply yet. I've opened my Bible intending to spend time with God only to get sucked into just checking one thing and then suddenly 30 minutes is gone. If you're nodding right now or you can identify with what I'm saying, not alone. Many of us have a very difficult time setting it down or shutting it off. I get stuck. We get stuck in the scroll. Since creating the Addicted to God message, I've learned that there's a word called doom scrolling. And it's true. We use it to numb ourselves when feel hard or ⁓ we're avoiding a tough conversation or when motivation is low and we just wanna check out and do something mindless for a while. Here's what I've come to realize. Technology itself isn't the enemy. The enemy is when it becomes an idol. When it. quietly replaces the time and attention that belongs to God and the people that He has put right in front of us. Jesus showed us this tension so early in the story of Mary and Martha. If you want to look it up, it's Luke 10 verses 38 through 42. Martha was busy. She was doing good things, serving, preparing, and making sure everything was perfect. Her host, after all, was Jesus. Mary was choosing to sit at Jesus' feet. and just listen to him. When Martha complained, Jesus said gently, Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. Friends, I don't want to be a modern day Martha, busy, distracted, and missing the main thing, the important things. I want to be merry. I want my eyes fixed on Jesus, my heart fully present with the people and things that God places right in front of me. The reason this matters so much right now is because technology was created to serve us, but too often we end up serving it. It promises connection, but it leaves us lonelier. It promises rest, but it steals our peace. And when we constantly chase likes, comments, deals, or the next dopamine hit, We're training our hearts to look for satisfaction in something that can never truly satisfy. That's exactly what the apostle Paul was warning us about in 1 Corinthians 10, 23 and 24. I've used this verse on this podcast before because it keeps our minds in the right perspective when we're approaching potentially destructive addictions. And 1 Corinthians 10, 23 and 24 says, I have the right to do anything, you say, but not everything is beneficial. I have the right to do anything, but not everything is constructive. Some versions say, but I will not be mastered by anything. You see, no one should seek their own good, but the good of others. I have the right to pick up my phone any time I want. The question is, when I pick up my phone, is it beneficial? Is it constructive to my marriage, my parenting, my job, and most importantly, my walk with God? So being that this has been a struggle, and I want to be intentional about it, because I don't believe this struggle is my own, I have developed some practical tips that I use to fight back. To be honest, I am not perfect at this, but I am making a conscious effort to put up some boundaries. And because they are helping me, I guess I'm recording this episode in the hope that they will help you too. So the first thing I'll lift up to you is that I limit my time. If I'm in a waiting room, let's just say I'm getting my oil changed or something, I'll give myself permission at that time to use my phone. And I will consider that when my car is done in the service department, I'm done with my phone time. I've also had to be intentional about my evenings. In my settings, I've turned off notifications from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. That way, even if I wake up in the middle of the night, I don't see those notifications to be checked on or even those text messages. As soon as 6 a.m. comes, the activity that came in overnight pops up. But by then, I already have my coffee, time in God's word, and my spirit is already quieted and ready for the chaos of today. Then another tip is that I don't Pick up my phone when I'm sitting down to a meal with someone. That time belongs to the person across from me. I want to be fully present with them, not half-heartedly balancing a person with worldly events and distractions. And trust me, there is endless events and worldly distractions. I know I'm not telling you something you didn't already know. Sometimes I have to be very intentional about deleting apps that constantly tempt me. especially restaurant apps. McDonald's giving me pop-ups every time I'm in the vicinity of a McDonald's trying to promote a new menu item. Out of sight, out of mind. There's my theory on some of those apps and some of those distractions. And then this one is probably my favorite. Instead of giving out my real email at checkout counters, I use a junk mail Gmail account. It's just a generic email account. And if I want a deal, I'll go into my junk mail account and I'll look for it. I don't need that constant harassment. And I refuse to be a victim of their marketing strategy, sucking me in with every bargain that tempts me. And for those of you who may have been following this episode for a bit, you know that I have had a shopping addiction. It is easy for me to circum to their marketing schemes. This is something I really have to put my guard posts up. And I have to tell you there's another healthy way that I have treated my technology addiction and that's called swapping. I have downloaded the Bible memory app and I started trading mindless scrolling for hiding God's word in my heart. This app allows me to choose verses that I want to memorize and put to memory. And I spend more time memorizing God's word. instead of looking through another video or trying to up on all the notifications and other things that are being pressed at me, I will review all my verses. ⁓ the app does a really good job that if I'm not catching on, it reminds me to practice them more often. ⁓ if I don't keep up, I can get really backlogged and that can feel overwhelming. So I'm motivated. Maybe it's a head game. It works for me. All I can say is that single habit in and of itself has strengthened my faith almost more than anything else. Because when you're putting God's Word into your mind, wow, that's where life change happens. I'm certainly not getting that from any of my games or any of my shopping on Facebook Marketplace. This proves that you can use technology for good. I've mentioned this before and maybe you already do this, but a creative idea that I've also really liked too is using my YouVersion Bible app and having it read to me audibly. Not only do I follow along in my Bible as the voice on the app reads to me, but I don't get hung up on those hard to pronounce names and words. Romans 10 17 says, Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word about Christ. How cool is Not only do I get to read it and hear it, but my faith grows too. I also started asking myself a simple question every single time I reach for my phone. Am I reaching for this out of boredom, avoidance, or habit? Or is this the best use of my time at the moment? That honest question has saved me hours. Sometimes I need to think, why? Why? Do I think I need it? And when I get honest about it and really try to answer why, it helps me redirect my thoughts, my actions, and my behaviors into what Proverbs 4, 7-9 says that we're supposed to be focused on. The peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, it says. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable. If anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me, put it into practice and the God of peace will be with you. Those verses are so powerful. I want that kind of peace. Don't you? So friend, if you're feeling the whole of technology that's stealing your time, your focus, or your peace, you're not alone. And you don't have to be stuck. The same God who can free someone from drugs and alcohol or any other addiction is powerful enough that He can help you transfer this addiction to. You don't have to quit technology, cold turkey. You just have to keep choosing, moment by moment, what is better. And Jesus is always better. presence with people. Choose time at Jesus' feet. Choose what honors God instead of chasing approval, popularity, or quick pleasure. Is it easy? No. No. I'll be the first one to tell you no, it's not easy. But no addiction is easy, especially one that literally we have at our fingertips all day long. If this episode has been difficult for you, I hope that my practical tips have inspired you. I also hope that you are encouraged that you are not defined by how many times you picked up your phone today. You are defined by who God says you are and who God says He made you to be. And that was for a purpose. When you transfer even this area of your life to God, you'll discover the freedom that comes from being truly addicted to God. So if this episode spoke to you, or you know someone who feels trapped in a scroll, would you share this with them? You never know how God might be using it to bring freedom. As I close this episode, I want you to remember you are not defined by your past or your struggles. When you transfer your addictions from this world to God, that's the one and only healthy addiction. So, until next time, friends, fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. God bless you. Thank you so much for listening, for sharing. liking and commenting. I am striving to bring a message to those of you who are in need. The Addicted to God message is for people who are tired, defeated, overwhelmed, and discouraged. People who desperately want a real relationship with God but aren't sure where to start or how to make it stick. Not just for today, but for life. So, I appreciate your support and encouragement, and I pray you have a grace-filled day.