This week, I embarked on a social media fasting from Facebook and Instagram as I find myself getting too engrossed with it sometimes
even to the extent of neglecting God and spending less time with Him.
Yeah it may seem laughable to some of you but I struggle with obsession over social media.
I would find myself surfing aimlessly and checking almost obsessively even if there is nothing interesting going on, it feels like as though sometimes I do not have the control to stop. Perhaps I do it to fill the emptiness within. It was like you're so used to using it that you don't even notice that it is slowly sapping your life away.
I usually don't think much of my surfing habits on social media, until I saw my good friend fasting from it. She challenged me to do so as well and I thought, yeah why not?
I guess the reason why people find social media so attractive is because through it, we are able to get approval and gratification. We are concerned with how other people look upon us and worry if we are like- able in people's eyes. All those likes, comments, hearts etc. We want all these likes and hearts to reaffirm ourselves, our existence and our worth. Some people may not have this issue but I find myself falling into this endless abyss.
Dear God, teach me not to be obsessed with all these superficial approvals from others. These are not what I should pursue after. Instead, let me aim to please you God and work for your affirmation. What good are
affirmations from man alone? Help me to
overcome my reliance on social media as well as this unhealthy obsession over seeking approval via social media. God, keep
me accountable.
Fasting
helped me to focus on seeking approval from God, the One with High, whose
opinion that matters most.
It was a little tough resisting the temptation of going on
to the websites since I was used to logging on whenever I am free or travelling
or in between breaks. By His strength, I managed to overcome it all. On the 5th
day of fasting, I found myself breaking away from the restraint of social
media and I wasn't reliant on it.
I had extra time to do other things. I began to spend more time with God, I spent my time
listening to sermons from Joel Osteen and meditating on His word through reading the bible. I felt closer to God and
experienced more of Him.
As what Joel Osteen said through his sermon, you are
what you listen, watch, come into contact etc. If something is unhealthy or
eating you away, cut it away from you. Fill your life with more of God.
I was
reminded of this verse Mark 9: 43-47
"If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is
better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where
the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble,
cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet
and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble,
pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye
than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell."
A reminder to self: more of You and less of me, God.
