The Power Of Suggestion
Every day advertisers spend millions of dollars to try to convince us that their product or service is something we need or can’t live without. Carefully crafted videos bombard our every waking hour through media of all kinds and if that wasn’t enough, the subtle seeds of discontent are regularly sewn within our minds and hearts, thrusting us towards ingratitude, disrespect and greed. What are we doing!! When did the madness become the norm?
Humans have the capacity for an insatiable appetite. We are ravenous for more of anything we can’t have and do just about anything to get it. We are deceived by the shiny glittering objects that consume the screens we now can’t release, and our minds are filled with the garbage of self-centeredness. If you don’t believe me, just try putting your gadget in another room and going about your day without it. You can’t. The addiction is as toxic as any drug on the market today.
Fortunately, I am blessed to have grown up in a world prior to cell phone and personal computer technology. While I use both every single day, I remember the days of old when life seemed so much less complicated and definitely less stressful. I am not naive. Children today will never have the childhood I had or experience the things I did and that is perfectly fine.
What I do long for though is that since we can’t turn back the clocks, we must adapt and teach the next generation how to thrive in the society in which they live.
The same “products” and “services” and “suggestions” are bombarding our kids too. All day long, seven days a week. What they see and listen to matters. A lot. When we as adults are modeling distracted, opinionated behaviour, we can never underestimate the impact our lifestyles have on those watching. Our kids and grandkids are being exposed to things that most adults struggle to comprehend and yet we have not been careful to guard their growing minds and hearts against things they are simply not equipped to handle.
Children are our most precious gift and we must protect them. Better yet, we must model Godly lifestyles with hearts turned towards God. Writing Scripture on our hearts, not only helps us grow closer to God but also creates a reservoir of tools to use in any situation we find ourselves facing.
Technology is here to stay. We can’t change that, and nor would I want to, but we can choose what influences us, and guess what, we all know where the “OFF” button is located. Discipline is something we all need and desperately lack. Self-control is listed as the ninth fruit of the Holy Spirit and I believe that it is last in the list because it’s the hardest to master. I also believe that the list is ordered in that particular way because each fruit is dependent on the one before.
Galatians 5:22-23
New King James Version
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Just remember that you will encounter many “suggestions” every single day, each with its own power to build you up, make you feel bad about yourself or lead you astray. The timeless wisdom of the Scriptures is your best friend and ever present help in time of need. (Psalm 46:1).
Like any addiction, screen-detoxing takes time and repeated effort. Some behaviours are simply bad habits and others have a deeper hold on us. You are not alone. Recognizing when something is not beneficial to you or your family is the first step. And that’s really all that matters. Take that first step. You won’t regret it.