Stop the Scroll
by C.A. Phillips
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Stop the scroll. That's the goal of organizations and marketers on social media. Capture attention. Distract. Get a potential consumer to focus on what it is you have to say or offer.What I am saying is this: stop scrolling.This past Sunday, Mike Linch shared a message at NorthStar Church about the tension we feel between being too busy (or too preoccupied) and having margin in our lives for the most important things.One of the main points of his message was that we are rarely fully present anymore. Our cell phones carry us away to far-off places in an instant. So, we are physically present somewhere, but mentally we can be light years away. Further, we then become dissatisfied with our own lives by comparing what we don't have to what others are enjoying (at least that's what we see in the pictures shared on their profiles and in their feeds).This past year, I made a point of looking at social media far less than I have in the past ten years. I can tell you I was healthier mentally than I have been in quite some time.Even more recently, I have been leaving my phone in another room in the house from time to time to take away the temptation to scroll through my phone. I have found that if I am holding my phone, or it's in my pocket and I receive a vibration that I have an email, text, or notification, the "tyranny of the urgent" will win just about every time. It's just too hard to resist.As Mike shared in his sermon, the voice you listen to in the first five minutes of your day will likely set the tone for you. More than 18 months ago, I decided that voice would be God's Word. Within the first five minutes of opening my eyes in the morning, I have opened the Bible app on my phone. I have read the entire New Testament and more than half of the Old Testament - a chapter at a time. I then pray for several minutes afterwards, giving my cares, anxieties, and requests to the Lord. There is no better way to start my day!Maybe in 2023, it's time for you to stop scrolling. Close the social media apps on your phone in the morning, and instead read a devotional, listen to a podcast, or open up your Bible. Let God's voice be what steers you in a direction each day.The world might try to create FOMO - but you're missing out on far more when you allow the world's voice to win the day. Start a new habit, and see where God can take you - and your mind!SUBSCRIBE TO "OVER THE HUMP" DEVOTIONAL
C.A. Phillips is a lifelong sports enthusiast and youth baseball coach, and currently serves as the Communications Pastor and Director of Men's Groups at NorthStar Church in Kennesaw, Ga. He lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy, and his two sons, Chaz and Chandler.
Imagine that you could sit down and pick the brains of some of the top leaders in the country! That's the premise behind the Linch with a Leader podcast. Learn how these leaders - all among the best in their respective field - have risen to the top, while continuing to grow spiritually and chase after the Lord.
