O how I love Facebook....not. I have realized that Facebook can be a major stressor in my life. I started realizing how much I checked Facebook a couple of weeks ago. I found myself grabbing my phone to check the status of others frequently and to be honest it started to bother me. I started thinking, why am I constantly checking the Facebook? Sometimes five minutes would go by and I felt the urge to check Facebook again, like something of major importance was on there. I started feeling a tug on my heart telling me I was so caught up in social media that I was neglecting the most important thing in my life. That important thing I was neglecting was my relationship with Jesus Christ. I could have been using the time on was on Facebook to study God's word. In a way, Facebook was becoming an idol in my life. It was taking my focus away from God in a sense that I wasn't using my time wisely. I would rather sit on my couch and check Facebook over and over and over again than I would pick up my Bible or read a devotional on my Bible app. While Jonah was in the stomach of the whale he cried out to God in a prayer. Towards the end he said, "Those who cling to worthless idols forsake faithful love." Jonah 2:8 I take this at this point in time of my life as this, when you cling to Facebook constantly checking it, you are forsaking God's faithful love. God wants me to draw close to him, and I was neglecting that.
Was I using Facebook to uplift and encourage others? Yes, but the truth remains that I couldn't go one day without checking it at least two-three times an hour. CRAZY!!!! I should be consumed in God's word the way that I was allowing Facebook to consume my time. Not everyone is addicted to Facebook like I am and I'm not addicted to other things like others are. Each person has their own struggles and to be honest you have lean on God's word and allow Him to show you if something is keeping you from knowing him more. 1 Corinthians 10:14 says, " Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry." I have deactivated my Facebook account and I am fleeing from my idol. I have picked up my phone several times with intentions of looking at what is on Facebook and remember I no longer have an account. I do not know how long I will stay away from Facebook, but I do know that I will never look at Facebook the same. My prayer is that we all will see what in our lives is keeping us from truly spending time with God and flee from it. My friends are confused as to why I no longer use Facebook, and hopefully this will help answer that question. I am choosing to step away and see how my life is without it for a while. Take care...and be on guard against the "little" things that are time consuming. Until next time May God Bless and Keep you!
*Bible verses used are from HCSB*
