Disconnect to Reconnect
The cellular phone has given us a level of connectivity that is greater than anything that existed in the past, but this device in our hands also gives the world unprecedented access to our minds. If there was ever a time that we needed the admonition of Romans 12:2 to not be conformed to the world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, it’s now! Legitimate and illegitimate information pasess through this portal called the mobile phone, and goes directly into our heads. The world news of devastation, civil unrest, starvation of our most precious and vulnerable infants, or even trending videos of talented pets, are inescapable.
In times past it was much easier to disconnect from all the happenings in the world, but even with my best effort to manage my social media interface, there are still times when it just feels like too much. I have been able to create some boundaries such as, I refuse to join what others have described as the unconscious descent to endless videos on Tik Tok, and I simply dont have the time for Twitter, Snapchat, or any of the others. Still, with just Instagram, Whatsapp, Facebook, and my husband’s obsession with watching NBC news every single day, twice per day, I still expose my precious brain cells to mostly unwanted information.
What I find most problematic about all this connectivity is the distraction and time-wasting that it creates. We barely learn anything from all the mindless scrolling and with zombie-like staring we fill our eyes with things that do very little to fill our souls. Social media has become such an ingrained part of our lives, that we don’t realise just how much of our attention is given to what is happening in someone else’s world.
Certainly, we must have noticed that many people spend more time looking at, commenting on, and even envying what is happening in other people’s lives, rather than their own.
I admit that I sometimes feel like I am too connected to my devices, too connected to external happenings that do not positively impact my life, and if I can be transparent, too connected to seeing other people commendably build their dreams and not focus enough on mine.
I need to disconnect is what I said to myself. The unexplainable feelings that seem to pop into my heart that cause me to question myself, my gifts, the Lord’s timing, and so many other things, must have some genesis in the fact that I have allowed too many things to be intermingled with my life.
The constant scrolling also exposes us to standards and undertakings that were never meant to be ours. Even as the world of information and accessibility has created opportunities that were unfathomable for many in the past, I also realise that people’s perspective of who they are, what they are capable of, and who they can become, has in many respects been narrowed to becoming IG models, Tik Tok stars and YouTube influencers.
I certainly understand the innumerable benefits of all this connectivity that created platforms to share positive messages, or to raise awareness about life-threatening issues. However, in everything, there must be wisdom and discretion. I got a timely reminder of that tough lesson when I had to nurse a tummy ache for an entire night after I devoured a pint of ice-cream earlier that evening. Everything in moderation is what I heard my parents say, and that remains true.
I therefore decided that for my sanity’s sake, to incubate my dreams, to focus on my calling, to detox from the world, to renew my energy, to filter my thoughts and to reconnect with God, I must disconnect.
We must disconnect from the noise to reconnect with peace.
We must disconnect from the virtual world to reconnect with reality.
We must disconnect from the screens and reconnect with nature.
We must disconnect from distraction to reconnect with vision and purpose.
We must disconnect from what was, and connect with what is and what will be.
We must disconnect from ideologies that pollute our minds, and reconnect with Truth.
We must disconnect from toxic relationships, and reconnect with self-love.
We must disconnect from what we want, to connect with what God needs.
We must disconnect from destructive habits, and connect with purity.
We must disconnect from selfishness, and connect with selflessness.
We must disconnect from shame and insecurity, and connect with power.
We must disconnect from condemnation and connect with Grace.
It is within our power and capability to determine how much we allow this new age of connectivity to control us, confuse us, and distract us. If like me, you need to make a small change, for the next week let’s commit to disconnect, so that we can reconnect.
For me that will look like disconnecting from all social media and reconnecting through prayer, reading, writing, and intermittent fasting.
Decide today to disconnect from what does not profit you so that you can reconnect with who God has called you to be.
Love Ya!
Krystal Baynes-Hoseinee
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‘My Favourite Scriptures: A Devotional For New Believers” contains reflections on fundamental principles about God’s love, His forgiveness, your character/nature in Christ, submission and obedience, His blessings, provision, purpose and protection. In this devotional I use deeply personal experiences to make the scriptures relevant to you. This book is a reflection of the grace that God showers on me, having used my lowest points and all my failures to increase my compassion so that I can spread the message of His love to the world.
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