Shutting out the noise!

I wonder do you ever become tired of your electronic devices always shouting at you whether via notifications or the ping ping of this or that person; email or any other app trying to get your attention. You feel obligated to respond there and then but the thing is – do we actually need to “bow down” for want of a better expression to the calls of the various notifications coming through and the answer dear reader is no; no we should not feel obligated to answer anything unless you know it is urgent! We are not governed by our phone or iPad/tablet or Mac Book and so on and so forth. We are not governed by this app or that app – no…………………….

We are not machines whereby we are programmed to be dictated to by anything or anyone. So, why are we allowing ourselves to be dictated to in today’s electronic world – why do we feel it is important to have our daily lives consumed by modern technology and the answer here is that it is simply not important!

When God created us, we were created with intelligence and we are all born with intelligence whether we believe this or not because this is pure and simple fact!! God did not create us to be mindless machines where we don’t have a voice let alone “heaven forbid” an opinion though to state here that the opinions we should have as both Believers and Followers of Jesus are His opinions as stated in His written Word and this goes without saying!

What I am not saying:

Going back to social media now, I am not saying quit social media though if you and I are constantly scrolling then yeah there is a bit of a problem here right off the bat. However, social media can be good if used productively and properly! What do I mean by this statement, well I mean the following:

• This can be used for the glory of God and His Kingdom
  • Hence Social Media is a great witnessing tool!
• This is great to catch up on sermons and other “solid” Bible based talks
• This is great for learning
• Connecting with others by various means
• Is great if used correctly and wisely

I have shared before fairly often that this English girl here has a love/hate relationship with the internet and especially social media and yes I do hate it with a passion at times. The internet where we live in this polarised computer related world where you do not have to do anything at all using the brain God blessed us with – why? because everything nowadays is done digitally and this is becoming more and more apparent where digitalisation is going to take over in every which way possible and this is also reality and the wary governments globally are heading – again FACT!

How the internet is destroying us:

From the moment the first computer came out in whatever format, was sadly the slow decline of how we began to use the brains that we were blessed with by Our Creator – God Himself. There started to be this slow decline whereby now fast forward to today’s world, we no longer have to think about how to do anything as everything is there right in front of our eyes on the internet – EVERYTHING and yes as stated above, this can be and is a good thing. BUT and a huge BUT we no longer use our mind in the way that was first intended and especially the children of today no longer know how to do simple tasks as simple arithmetic or how to spell because everything is laid out there before them!

Throughout every single day people are acting like robots or should I perhaps rephrase this and to use a much better analogy that people have become robots because they are so tied to their phones and you see this in every day life when walking down the street; or conversations around the dinner table – conversations meaning conversations with the small electronic device in one’s hands (yeah there is open sarcasm here with deliberate intent)!

Is it any wonder that people no longer know how to hold a basic conversation around the dinner table or they don’t know how to use their brain to work a simple sum out or how to do anything! Seriously, it is insane

People no longer have a clue how to communicate. They don’t have a clue how to switch their phones off where they dare not miss that call or that text or even the mindset of why hasn’t that family member or friend etc responded to me – and this is so easy where we can go down the rabbit trail of “thinking “I” have done something wrong” and yep been there; done that and worn the t-shirt but this is where “self” takes over here!

Do you not see what is happening!

We have been programmed to respond to every single message; email or whatever promptly and/or there is that “fear” if you will of “I” am missing out on x y z and folk may refuse to see this as fear but that dear reader is exactly what it is right there!

Also how sad is it when you get a husband and wife sitting next to each other say on the sofa where the only way they communicate is via their cell phone and yes I have seen this with my very own eyes sad to say it is true! Also a husband, boyfriend etc who is so engrossed in this game or whatever on their phones that they have no clue and are oblivious to the fact you are trying to get their attention!

You are on a call with a family member or friend when a notification comes through where you have to answer that call whether it is important or not – my question is can this not wait!

You are in a church and you need to have your phone on just in case – just in case what and why you are in church, surely that family member or friend can wait until you get out of church, now don’t get me wrong if say your wife is about to go into labour or a family member is sick then a quick response is needed but for the most part please shut out the noise hence get rid of distractions. Please turn your phones off and put on silent or put that device in your bag and leave it there!

Don’t’ be a people pleaser:

I have noticed personally that when my device is switched off how much more peaceful it is around me whereby all I can hear are the natural sounds in “my” own space. All is calm and lovely. It is pure bliss and so quiet one can hear a pin drop!

Why do we believe we need to be in that mindset that we should be available 24/7 – where does it state this in God’s Word that we have to have our devices switched on all the time or where does it mention about electronic devices at all because I am pretty certain God’s Word does not contain any such Scripture references!

We are called to be in this world but not of it – right and all of us as both Believers and Followers of Jesus Christ know this or at least I would trust that we know this!

Being Good Stewards:

We are all called to be good stewards of this that and the other and obvious elements come to mind such as finances; our health and so the list continues but how about I also throw in here being good stewards when it comes to our electronic devices also – how many of us actually take this factor into the equation – and yeah I am talking about all of us as in you, me and us!

We all do have the ability believe it or not to take responsibility for the amount of time we spend on our electronic devices and to be able to say no to having that “thing(s)” turned off at certain times of the day – right, are you hearing me here dear reader! Let us take when we are asleep – why do we keep our devices on at night – we are talking why? unless as stated earlier, for an emergency if we have an elderly parent, why O why, do we have those machines on 24/7 when we can decide to turn off all those devices at night to switch off the noise. I will even suggest turning those machines off and putting them somewhere out of sight in a place where you can easily find it again the next morning. Put said electronic machine(s) in a draw in a separate room where we can shut out all of the noise and where we can literally sleep peacefully with no distractions or expectations – try it and see how much calmer and peaceful all of our sleeping hours will be!

Pure time wasters:

Let’s face it, these devices are exactly that – pure time wasters if you allow them to be and this begs a question here of:

How many hours a day do we spend on these ghastly devices

Seriously, on the more modern phones of today, our time is tracked on how much time we actually do spend on the various apps along with the internet – i do highly recommend we do check how much time we do spend on all of our apps and as i have been, you will be surprised and i would trust also alarmed at the amount of time wasted when there are so many other things one can spend their time on outside of these pesky devices.

Addiction is a major problem in today’s digitlized world where our constant scrolling and consuming these dangerous devices is affecting our health and believe you me it is. One issue that comes to mind instantly is:

Hearing Loss:

Why do I bring this up – well, we listen to music or watch videos etc on these “health hazard devices” where we see nothing wrong with having the volume up as far as it will go where despite the warnings that come up about reaching volume maximum – we still continue to have the volume up at full throttle. Is it any wonder that in this day and age, we have severe issues with our hearing because I know I do. I already know that damage has been done which is irreversible once this downhill slide happens – it happens where there is no going back!

Health & Well Being:

Mental Health:

This is also a huge problem today and it seriously is with all of the dangerous content in various formats available day in and day out which is affecting so many of us especially the younger generations of today – again examples are as follows which are not in any particular order – so, let’s go:

• Suicide rates especially amongst young people is on the increase
• Dysfunctional families and yes social media etc is also to blame
• Misinformation has spread like wildfire
• Hate crimes – meaning violence and murder is through the roof on a global scale
• Fear, anxiety and depression is at an all time high
• Self absorption; vanity and needing to be in “the limelight: so to speak via various means
• The “must have” mentality with online consumerism at our finger tips 24/7
• Inability to think let alone use our brain that God has blessed us all with
• The need to “fit in” to a world that is so toxic
• Artificial Intelligence that in my personal humble opinion in many ways is now becoming “a death trap”
• I am throwing in here Attention Deficit Disorder also which is relevant!

Physical Health:

It is not just mentally where there are a ton of issues as stated in the above list of which by the way, I am certain is by no means exhaustive however, there are also dangers to our physical health and well being also which some of what I am about to share may surprise you hence not being what you are expecting:

First of all with all of the mental health issues I have stated above, this actually does impact our physical health too if we are not careful! I have already mentioned about hearing issues but where I am going with this section is with all of the above statements it does eventually take a toll on us physically in various means. Stress and anxiety does cause so much damage if allowed to continue whereby ongoing stress is actually a silent killer! What do I mean by this statement, well it is a medical known fact that continued stress does affect our bodies which if allowed to continue will eventually affect us via:

• Our immune system
• Cardiovascular problems
• Metabolic changes as in:
  • Obesity
  • IBS
  • Diabetes
  • Hormone imbalance
• Other physical symptoms such as:
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Digestive issues such as IBS
  • Acne
  • Chronic headaches

This list again is exhaustive so yes there are mental health issues which then can seriously affect our physical health in various ways but also another serious health issue that is affected is:

Spiritual Health & Wellbeing:

This last topic is of paramount importance which is where some of you reading this may believe that that the physical health is of paramount importance and far outweighs both the mental and physical issues where this is not so – our spiritual health and all of the “stuff” out there that we are allowing ourselves to be infiltrated with is of the essence! When we get our spiritual wellbeing wrong and believe in anything outside of God’s Word then this is dangerous right there because if we get this so wrong where it will affect our eternity and I am being as always “deadly” serious!

Even when there are those of us who are both Believers and Followers of Jesus Christ – this does not give us immunity to our walk with Jesus being affected. If we (and if with a capital W) allow both our mental and physical well being to be so affected that we start to lose both our Hope and Trust that is in Jesus Christ and in Him alone then Dear Readers we are on a downward path of destruction and once we get on this downward slide then if not checked and dealt with then this is where the danger lies – why one may ask?

I have touched on this topic on several posts throughout this blog and off the top of my head I can’t think which posts to direct you too if you haven’t checked out the posts or you perhaps need a refresher but at the end of the day, if we are not in His Word on a daily basis and not just reading but meditating and chewing on His Word and if we are not in daily ongoing communion with our Abba Father then this here on in is where immense danger lies and we will fall into the trap that satan has laid out for us.

Whilst on this note:

please never ever let us fall for satan’s trap of thinking that we will never fall for the dangers of this world, because that false analogy right there is our slide into the deception and lies that he wants and once we start to believe the devil’s lies (where i strongly urge all of us not to even go there) then and there begins our downward spiral – so let all of us be extremely careful always and at all times!!

Encouragement from this device trails:

As we so often hear the expression “there is a time and a place” – well this also goes for our electronic devices of which there are ways around to limit our usage of said devices; there are ways around to limit our time on screen – PERIOD!!

We can and do have choices to make in the where, why and how regarding electronics and this is where I am going to end this blog post with some suggestions for all of us here – so with that said, let’s go:

• Choose deliberately with intention times each day to switch out the noise!
• In the evenings let us choose a time to switch off devices at night
  • Along these lines put said device in a draw in a different room if we can and as far away from our sleeping area as we can!
• Get rid of social media apps from phones and I am talking about the common culprits such as:
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Tiktok
  • X
  • chat GPT
  • any other apps you can think of
• Choose time specifics to do certain tasks (if you are using electronic devices for work then this is a different story!
• Choose with deliberate intention to schedule in “device times” whereby if I may, suggest some of the following alternatives:

Choosing instead to:

• Read God’s Word and other wholesome reading material
• Do a writing project
  • Pick up a pen and start to write “good old fashioned” letters again
  • Write out cards to send to loved ones and friends
• Other craft projects
• Bake a cake or other baking/cooking
• Get out in the fresh air and go for a walk
• Arrange a coffee/lunch/dinner date with a loved one and/or friend
• Speaking of walks, go on a prayer walk taking in God’s amazing creation
• Sit for awhile and be still; be quiet and use these times for reflection
  • Picture heaven and Jesus returning for us His Bride (for those of us as both Believers and Followers of Jesus) and what eternity with Him with be like – what an amazing glorious time this will be FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER!!

The above are just a few simple ideas to cut out the continuous noise of electronic devices and yes there may be some exceptions to the above especially if mobility and illness is apparent – but let us be deliberately intentional to find other creative outlets which were once the natural things to do to be creative with our time – life was so much simpler in what is known as “the good ole days” but those “good ole days” are long gone and are never coming back. But life was great, carefree and so very simplified wasn’t it for those of us old enough to remember the good times.

May this blog post give you “food for thought” and also share ways if you would like in the comments of other ways to “switch out the noise”! With this said, I do pray that this blog post is also an immense encouragement so, until next time……………………………….

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