What comes first? Computers, People, or God?

Computers and Social Networking have changed our lives. Recently my husband and I were out to dinner. We were in an upscale “special occasion” type of restaurant seated in a quaint cozy window seat. Through the window we could see a couple in their thirties, who actually landed the prime spot outdoors at a bistro type table. They were dressed up and we imagined they were on a date night or celebrating something special. But right after they placed their order, they both spontaneously took out their cell phones and without a word they remained on them until their meal came–texting, checking email or playing games–one would assume. They both remained oblivious to each others presence, engrossed in their electronic devices.

Such is life in this day and age.

And, though I don’t text while sitting at dinner with my husband, I do spring out of bed to two rituals…a cup of coffee and checking my messages and emails.  This is new. For years I sprang out of bed to get my cup of coffee and then to go pray, read God’s word and journal what He was speaking to my heart….and I still do those things, but not until I have logged in…on my computer or iphone.

This morning it struck me how this new habit is not as healthy as my previous one. I wonder how many women, like myself, have switched the order of their mind, day and priorities by putting connection with others and cyber things, before connection with God.

It happens slowly, like any habit does. It gets repeated without any conscious fanfare, and it get ingrained into the “new” way we do things. But, for women who desire a deeper walk with God, this “new” is hardly “new and improved”.  It is more like ” new and out of order.” For many of us our computers and technology have come between us and God.

In an article in Just Between Us, Summer 2010 edition, Laura Lee Shaw writes:

“One morning I was sitting in “my” chair ( the one I sit in to read my Bible). I had just checked my email and commented on a few blogs when I got up to get my second cup of coffee. As I looked over at the side table, the image I saw froze in my mind: It was my laptop sitting on top of my open Bible. When I had first sat down that morning, I’d opened my Bible to the book of Psalms, which is how I’d been jump starting my morning for several years. Then I thought I’d take just a second to check my email before the kids got up. After all, I’d rather them see my face int he Bible instead of my computer first thing in the morning. While my rationale seemed justifiable at the time, I sensed the Holy Spirit sobering my heart,pointing out that I’d been doing this more and more lately, the end result being less and less time with the Lord. I was getting into a habit of coming before Him distracted and half-hearted, and sometimes not at all.”

As I continued reading the above article my heart was captured by her words because the conviction in my own life was kicking in. I too had become distracted and disordered in my coming before God. There were messages to check, people to get back to and ofcourse….there were pictures to look at on facebook. Never mind that most of the people we check out on facebook, are people we aren’t daily friends with…it’s fun to interact, not feel alone in this world, and leave our comments and marks. But, if this social connection is getting in the way of our spiritual connection, there is a problem.

So, here we are again, heading into the end of the year, Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is a busy time, but what would happen if we made the time more sacred than usual? What would happen if we logged into prayer and thanksgiving, and reading of Scripture before we logged into anything else?

I started today. Putting the computer last and not first, and coming  before God asking Him to prepare my heart, mind and body for the season that goes into spin cycle in just a few days.

May you be ready to check your heart habits and if you are feeling spiritually flat, perhaps it’s because though you love the Lord, he is no longer first in your connection and interaction.

“Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee….” Isaiah 26:3

many blessings to you as you learn to follow Him,

Debbie