Live with Self-Control

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For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. Titus 2:11-12

The technology available today has many amazing uses and can be used in good ways, however, it can also be a distraction from the really important things and a vehicle for temptations. 

Do you find yourself scrolling social media and feeling discontent because you see what someone else has or is doing and you’re jealous? Or you find you’re connect with people you don’t really know over the internet instead of connecting with the people who are living in your home or in your class at school? 

Social media and the internet used in moderation can be awesome. It helps us stay connected with friends and family who live far away for example. But it isn’t a replacement for face to face connection and it is easy to spend too much time with your eyes glued to a screen. This isn’t good for your physical, mental or spiritual health. It can be hard to control our technology use, but as Christians we have the Holy Spirit in us helping us to live godly lives and resist temptations. 

I challenge you to join us this weekend in a tech-break day. You can decide what you want to do, but here are some ideas to get you started: log out of all your social media sites for the day, don’t use your phone at all (or just for phone calls if you really need to get in touch with someone), or take a day off from playing video games or computer games. I encourage you to choose something that will actually challenge you, don’t take a day off of video games if you only play once or twice a week anyway. What technology related thing is the most distracting to you? Start with that. 

Instead of spending time on your phone or computer, pick a few specific things to do that day so you aren’t bored and wondering what to do. You could hang out with a friend and talk, read a book, spend time studying the Bible or praying, ​work on a hobby, play games or sports with friends, take a hike out in nature. 

Join us on Sunday, September 30. If you’re reading this too late to join in, feel free to pick your own day to take a tech-break! Let us know how it goes! 

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