Do you ever feel like technology is taking over your life? Maybe you spend too much time on Facebook. Or you have a hard time stopping when you watch Netflix. Or you’re addicted to Pinterest. You want to break your habit, but you’re not sure how.
If this is you, an entertainment and social media fast may help. T.C. Avey, who blogs at Wisdom of a Fool, took a 21 day fast from technology and social media, and I asked her to share her experience with us. I’ve asked her some questions about the experience, and you can read her responses below.
Entertainment and Social Media Fast: What’s It Like?
1. Why did you decide to take a fast from entertainment and social media, T.C.?
Six years ago my Sunday School group read the book, “Awakening: A New Approach to Faith, Fasting, and Spiritual Freedom” by Stovall Weems and decided to pray and fast for 21 days. I was pregnant and couldn’t do the fast as everyone else did, but I wanted to participate. So I decided to fast from ALL forms of entertainment and social media. This meant NO radio, TV, computer, internet, phone, tablet or even books unless it was the Bible or book by Weems.
Since that time I have chosen to fast from technology every once in awhile because it’s so powerful. There are various motivating factors, but all have the underlying theme of drawing me closer to God and getting the “noise” out of my way so that I can really hear my Savior.
2. What did your fast look like on a practical level?
On the surface it looked really boring. I mean, no technology! Nothing for my hands to hold, no buttons for my fingers to click, no noise to drown out the silence, no one to talk with and nothing to occupy my mind… other than God. I didn’t even have work to simulate me. At the time I was practically on bed rest due to a difficult pregnancy, and technology was my life line to keep me sane during the long hours while my husband was at work.
Doing such a strict fast was HARD…at first. By the middle of the second week I was in a groove. I craved more time with God. I woke ready get into the Word and hear what God had to say to me.
3. What was the hardest thing about it?
Besides the obvious of committing to such a strict fast, I discovered how much technology ruled my life. I was astonished by this revelation since I often use technology FOR God. I love reading Christian blogs, reading devotionals on my tablet, and using my Bible app. Yet these very tools (and others) often distract me FROM God.
I was tempted so often to “cheat”. I’m used to watching TV before bed but I couldn’t do that. Thankfully my husband read the Bible with me and we journaled our thoughts and revelations.
I remember toward the end of the fast a terrible storm was coming. Talk about being tempted to cheat! I could see the skies darken and had no clue what was happening… but it sure looked like a tornado. It was scary, but all ended well.
4. What lessons did you learn from it?
I’m not sure what I was expecting but I can tell you the depth of my relationship with God increased more than I could have imagined. I had major revelations about my life: my weakness and how God could supply my need if I would trust Him, my strengths and how they prohibited me from relying on God, my personality and how it could be used to further God’s kingdom, my past mistakes and how I was forgiven, and so much more.
I experienced the sweet intimacy of time with God, the tears of healing, and the joy of being free not only from distractions such as technology, but also from sin and guilt.
5. Was there anything about it that surprised you?
Actually a few things surprised me. First, I was expecting temptations and spiritual warfare. Satan doesn’t like God’s children drawing closer to Him and fasting is one of the best ways I know to draw closer to God. Something about denying our flesh pulls our spirits closer to God.
The spiritual warfare I experienced during the fast didn’t surprise me—how lax I became after the fast did. It’s like once the fast was over I didn’t feel the need to keep my spiritual antenna fine tuned into God. This caused me to wonder why I rely on God more when fasting than any other time. Do I sometimes think I can battle satan without God’s help? And why do I extinguish all my options before asking God for help?
Before reading the Awakening book I’d only fast for a day or two about certain prayer requests, such as an upcoming mission trip or witnessing to a friend. But reading that book showed me there’s more to fasting than I realized. I shouldn’t fast just to petition God or try and gain His favor. It’s about strengthening the relationship, spending time with God and letting Him speak and reveal things we often don’t take time to listen too.
Here’s another thing fasting pushed to the forefront of my awareness: Anytime I focus more on God than I do myself the more like Christ I become, the more loving I am. And people respond to love.
As I draw closer to God, I respond to others in a more Christ-like way. For me, this means putting people above projects. When I use technology, unwittingly it gets in my way of loving others and responding to their needs. I think an email needs a response before I can help my son with his homework. I take a phone call while in line at the store and ignore the frazzled look of the elderly lady behind me. I text while sitting at a restaurant instead of looking around and asking God if He how He wants me to respond.
Technology is not bad. It can be very good. But we need to learn how to unplug from it and connect with the people around us.
6. Did it affect your relationship with God at all?
YES! I highly encourage every Christian to fast. If you don’t know how or have questions about it you should read “Awakening: A New Approach to Faith, Fasting, and Spiritual Freedom” by Stoval Weems. It’s a great starter book.
This world is full of distractions…even if you are in ministry. Doing “good things” FOR God can even get in your way of being close to Him. Fasting brings you closer to Him and allows you to hear His heart.
Drifting away from Him happens over time, that’s why it’s important to be intentional about carving out time for God.
7. Did it have any longterm effects?
It helps me be more aware of my time management. I’m more sensitive of how I spend my time and can tell when I need an “awakening” in my walk with God. When I start getting short with my family, when fears and worries clog my prayers, when projects take precedence over people, then I know I need to take a step away from the noise and embrace time with God on a more intimate level.
Bio: TC Avey is a Christian wife and mother. She’s an avid reader who loves history and politics. Her blog, Wisdom of a Fool, is dedicated to helping Christians deepen their relationship with Christ and navigate through the challenges facing believers in our world. Her book, The Precipice: When Everything We know Ends, is available on Amazon. You can also follow her on twitter.
Thank you for interviewing me. I enjoyed sharing my experience with fasting. Praying it helps others draw closer to God.
Thanks, TC! This is one of those things I’d love to try but it also seems a little scary! I think it would be hard to do as a writer, but that might make it even more necessary to give it a try. I’ll definitely have to think about it. What did you do about emails when you were on it?
It’s definitely hard as a writer but my desire to write lessened as the days progressed and I drew closer to God. He filled that void in me and I did journal so it’s not like I didn’t write at all.
As for email, that was hard. I didn’t want to tell everyone what I was doing so I simply emailed those I was most connected with that I would be out of pocket for 3 weeks. When I returned to social media my inbox was overflowing! Took me awhile to get through it all. Every eye opening to how much time I spend online and how socially active I am using technology.
Very eye opening, not Every eye…
That’s interesting, TC. I know I spend a lot of time on technology as well. I bet you could also do an email autoresponder that let people know you weren’t looking at emails for a few weeks. That’s what my brother has set up whenever he goes out of town. If I email him I just get an email that says, “I’ll be out of the office until …”
Good one! And good for you for coming up with the discipline to honor our Father. I think you said it all when you said putting God before yourself is key. It’s so easy to slip back too…. that’s experience writing, sisters.
Glad you two hooked up!
Thanks, Floyd. It was great to hear what TC had to say as I’ve always been curious about a technology fast but have never tried it myself.
Slipping back into the flesh is so easy. Discipline takes a long time build and a short time to break. I’ve only done 21 days one time but I plan on doing it again. Finding that chunk of time isn’t easy.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Floyd. You encourage me.
That’s great. I did a similar sort of fast recently (not all technology), but it was a wonderful thing. The time management piece was the big one for me too. It’s incredible. And I love your insight about after the fast thinking we can fight the enemy on our own. Good thoughts! Thanks TC and Barb.
Thanks for stopping by, Jason. That’s interesting that the time management piece was a benefit for you as well. I’ve never done a technology fast other than when I go backpacking and it’s an enforced fast! I need to do a prolonged one when I’m at home sometime just to see what it’s like!
Thanks, Jason.
Time management is a tricky thing but with God all things are possible. I’d love to hear your thoughts and insights on fasting.
I really want to do this (media fast). I think I will order this book and fast. I’ve been trying to read mostly the bible right now but I’m definitely feeling distracted. Thanks for sharing!
The book by Weems is an excellent resource to help during your fast (and it can be used with any type of fast whether food or social media).
It enhanced my understanding of the Bible and the importance of fasting.
I’d love to hear how your fast goes. God bless you, Christina.
Thank you! I will let you know. I won’t be able to start it until the end of July since I will be away from home. I will report back here. :)
Good! I’ll look forward to seeing how it went, Christina!
Looking forward to it. Have a wonderful 4th of July!
God bless.
Hi Barb,
Nice to meet you. Thanks for interviewing TC and for bringing up this idea.
TC, how interesting to peek into your technological fast, and to hear about it. Thanks for doing it and for bringing us along. I’ve been convicted with how often I simply turn to a show, or fb, or something online instead of the next projects I should be working on instead. Moderation, wisdom, discernment and obedience are key for me, I think.
Nice to talk with you again, TC.
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
Hi, Jennifer. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. I commented back to you on my blog as well. Have a blessed holiday weekend.
Hi Jennifer, Thanks for stopping by! I just checked out your blog and it looks great. The picture of the pizza on one of the blog posts looked incredible! We also homeschooled our kids but they’re all grown now. Thanks for commenting!
It seems to me that in our connected age this kind of fasting from time to time is almost a necessity. I find that it’s easy to get burned out on all the social media. Putting it aside for some time to focus on prayer and Bible reading brings my heart back in line with God. Thanks for sharing your experiences TC.
I feel the same way about getting burned out on social media, Caleb. I get regular fasts when I go camping and backpacking, but could use some during the winter as well!
It wasn’t until I fasted this way that I realized how dependent I am on it. I’m thankful that there are so many ways we can draw closer to God.
Thanks for sharing, Caleb. God bless.
Thank you for sharing this. I have been wanting to fast for some time, but like you and others have stated, it is hard. Well, in the beginning it is hard. I’ve fasted a few times before, but I want to grow into learning to fast more and more. I am a newly married wife and there is so much that I desire to draw even closer to the Lord for, not merely things, but just to cultivate deeper intimacy with Him. I long for that. Your story has helped me and I really want to do this!
Your desire to draw closer to God says a great deal about you. Nothing compares to having a relationship with Him and satan will use every distraction, lie, and truck to keep you from it. But God is greater and He longs to draw closer to you as well. Trust Him and His promises. None are perfect and some days are easier than others to come into His presence and experience His glory. That’s ok. Just keep seeking and you will find.
1 John 1:9
Matt 7:7
God bless you and your marriage, Kaylah
That’s great, Kaylah! I know it would be helpful, but I agree that it would be hard! I’m lucky that there wasn’t much temptation around when I was newly married and with kids – no iPhones back in those days! I think it would be a lot harder now!