I had to have a little talk with myself recently, and it started with my phone. From the minute I get up in the morning until the minute I go to bed at night, that little thing seems determined to get my attention. There’s always something waiting for me, a message, an email, a Facebook notification, or some other little alert. And what do I do? I pick it up. “Let me just see what that is.” Then one thing leads to another, and before I know it, I’ve spent far more time on my phone than I ever intended.
Lately, I’ve found myself asking, Who’s really in control here- my phone or me? I already know the answer, but sometimes knowing the answer and living like it are two different things. So I’ve decided to make some changes. I’m turning off some notifications, putting my phone down more often, and reminding myself that I don’t have to respond to everything the moment it happens. My phone is supposed to be a tool I use; it was never supposed to become the master of my time. And that got me thinking about something even more important: How often do I allow the things around me to steal the time God has given me?
Ephesians 5:15-16 tells us to “walk circumspectly... redeeming the time.” Redeeming the time means making the most of it and being intentional with the moments God has given us. Once a moment is gone, we don’t get it back. There are people who deserve my attention more than a screen does. There are conversations I don’t want to miss, books I want to read, prayers I want to pray, sunsets I want to watch, and quiet moments with God that are far more valuable than knowing what everybody on Facebook is doing. And honestly, Facebook will survive if I don’t check it every ten minutes.
I’m learning that sometimes putting the phone down isn’t really about technology at all. It’s about choosing what deserves my attention. At the end of my life, I don’t want to look back and wish I had spent more time scrolling. I want to know I spent my time loving people, making memories, serving God, and being present for the life He gave me. So I’m asking myself one more time: Who’s in control-my phone or me? It really shouldn’t be a hard decision. I think it’s time I took back my time
