It is hard to imagine a world without the technological advancements we have today. Just from my phone I can check email, check the weather, watch a movie or tv show, listen to music, play a game, read a book, check Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter, check my bank account, book a flight, take and edit photos, get coupons, and scan a barcode to pay at Starbucks…and I can make phone calls. A wealth of information is at our fingertips every day. We can use it for good things, or we can allow it to monopolize our time with useless activity and information.
I love what Courtney says in chapter 4: “Media is amoral. In and of itself it is neither good nor evil. It is our use of it that determines its morality.” We must make wise choices with how we use media or it can be a distraction, and it can become a source for sinful behavior. This is especially true with social media. It can be all too easy to type out a status update or tweet without thinking. When others do so, it can make us judgmental, jealous, or a variety of other feelings that do not come from a pure heart.
But technology can also be a great tool. I love the Bible app from YouVersion. I can take the Bible anywhere and keep my notes all in one place. There are great Bible reading plans, including some from Good Morning Girls. I have it on my phone and iPad. Fighter Verses is great for scripture memorization and even allows you to make your memory verse the lock screen for your phone (note: the app costs $2.99). Media can also help you connect with other women especially through blogs or online Bible studies. It can inspire and motivate. But we must guard our hearts and minds in the use of it, or it can become a trap.
In chapter 5, we are encouraged to find fellow sisters in faith who can teach us, encourage us, and keep us accountable, and those in whom we can do the same as we grow in faith. This was so easy when I was in seminary. I had an amazing group of friends who greatly desired these relationships. I was also involved in a church with a very vibrant small group ministry. I had a hard time when my friends and I all graduated because almost all of my friends pursued ministry overseas and I very rarely am able to communicate with them. On top of that, I was attending a new church that was fairly new and still in the early stages of developing fellowship opportunities outside of Sunday worship. Because I work a full-time job, I could not attend the women’s meeting held during the mornings. I was so grateful when we recently began adult Sunday school, and in a couple of weeks, we will be starting an evening women’s Bible study and I am so excited.
The time spent with fellow believers is vitally important to our spiritual lives. God has created us to be in community, and every aspect of our being can be made to flourish with the influences of Godly community. Media can be a hindrance for this because it often leads to superficial community rather than deep heart-to-heart relationships.
My prayer is that we would seek Godly community, both to learn and be encouraged, and to teach and encourage others. May we wisely use media available to us to further rather than hinder our walks with God. Let’s focus on living well in community.
I hope you will head on over to Women Living Well for more thoughts on these topics along with discussion questions for the book.
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