When it comes to soul starvation, we have to talk about our phones. This little rectangle is a powerful thing we carry around in our pockets. Here’s a few stats from 2021: 83% feel uneasy leaving their phone at home. 48% consider themselves addicted to their phone. 43% label their phone as their most valuable possession.

So what do we believe about our phones? What do we believe if we need to have it at all times, if we feel addicted, if it’s our most valuable possession? That sounds like we want it to be an ever-present, all-powerful savior. We so often look to our phones to bring us peace, hope, love, and joy…we turn to them FIRST when we are anxious, overwhelmed, and afraid. And then it doesn’t actually deliver. Yes, phones have some good qualities. We stay in contact with all of our friends, we make plans, we network, we can read novels and the Bible and learn new things all the time. That is really helpful and useful. The problem isn’t our phone. The problem is what our phone sells us, how it doesn’t deliver, and the way it can starve our soul. We are sold news and advertising that turns into fear and anxiety. We are sold airbrushed photos that turn into comparison. We are sold faulty belief systems that turn into identity issues.

And it’s all subtly starving our souls. A few questions I want to ask are: If I put my phone down, do I believe God will take care of me? Will God connect to me if I disconnect from my phone? It’s scary to give up a place of security if you aren’t sure what you are trusting in its place. This week we will talk about replacing phones with true connection to God and others.