Let’s be honest for a second, most of us have a complicated relationship with our phones. They’re our alarm clocks, our calendars, and our connection to the world. But they’ve also become our comfort zones, our distractions, and if we’re not careful, our gods.
Some mornings, before our eyes are even fully open, we’re already reaching for that glowing screen. Not to pray, not to breathe in the new day, but to scroll. Notifications, messages, headlines, all demanding our attention before we’ve even spoken to God.
And I get it; I’ve done it too.
One day, I was sitting in a hospital waiting room. The air was quiet, but not peaceful. Every single person around me had their eyes fixed on their phones. No one talked. No one looked up. It hit me, we’ve built a world where we’re always “connected,” yet so many of us are deeply disconnected from the people right beside us… and from God.
Now, I’m not saying technology is evil. Phones are amazing tools. But here’s the truth: whatever captures your attention will eventually capture your heart.
And if our attention is constantly pulled toward screens, our hearts will follow. Slowly, we start giving God what’s left over: a distracted prayer here, a half-listened sermon there. Our phones get our first fruits; God gets the crumbs.
Recognizing the Problem.
Statistics paint a sobering picture. Studies show nearly 27% of people worldwide meet the criteria for smartphone addiction. Over 50% of adults say they feel anxious if they don’t have their phone, and nearly 90% of couples admit their phones interfere with their relationship.
That’s not just about time management; that’s about our hearts.
We live in a world buzzing with noise, and the gentle whisper of God often gets drowned out. We don’t mean to ignore Him; we’re just constantly distracted. Yet the Spirit still calls, softly: “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Breaking the Stronghold
Here’s the good news: this isn’t about guilt, it’s about freedom. God isn’t angry at us for checking our phones. He’s simply inviting us to come back.
Breaking the pull of the phone doesn’t mean tossing it in the lake (though, I admit, some days that sounds tempting). It means learning to use it without letting it use you.
Try this:
Start your day with God, not your phone. Even a simple “Good morning, Lord” before checking notifications makes a world of difference.
Create “phone-free” zones. The dinner table, your prayer time, maybe your first 30 minutes of the day, let those moments belong fully to God and the people you love.
Pay attention to your triggers. When you feel that urge to scroll, ask, What am I really looking for right now? Peace? Comfort? Connection? Then invite God into that moment instead.
Small changes lead to big transformation when your heart’s involved.
Returning to Your First Love
At its core, this isn’t about technology, it’s about love. The phone is just a symbol of misplaced affection. But the Father’s heart hasn’t changed. He still whispers, “Come back to Me.”
He’s not calling us away from connection, He’s calling us into a better one. The kind that brings rest to the soul and joy to the heart.
So maybe it’s time to unplug, not just from screens, but from anything that steals your stillness. Maybe it’s time to return to Presence.
Because the truth is, nothing you surrender for love of Christ will ever leave you empty. It only makes room for more of Him.
So here’s to unplugged hearts, renewed presence, and the quiet beauty of returning to your first love, not the one that fits in your hand, but the One who holds your heart.
RJ (Rox) Nolin