Stop snapping… and start reading!

Switch off your social media feed for a few minutes a day, and let God’s Word change you.

In a world of instant news alerts, immediate texts, and microwavable meals, God’s word is easily pushed aside for social media updates. And it’s not often the Lord updates His Instagram or posts a story on Snapchat.

Somewhere, lost in the shuffle of scrolling through feeds, the priority to read the Bible every day is forgotten.

“I’ll catch up tomorrow,” keeps adding up until it’s a hassle to even figure out where you want to read, let alone set aside time with the Lord. Suddenly, God shrinks further and further from your life, like the people you don’t really know, but follow their feeds anyways.

There are oodles of apps with daily Bible reading or devotions. If you don’t like to sit down and read, there are audio daily Bible apps. Want a daily ping? There’s an app for that. Even Instagram has several options for your feed.

Three reasons to make time for the Bible

Why is it so important to take at least a few minutes everyday to read the Bible? Here’s just a few reasons:

1. It’s good for you

It’s pretty simple —reading the Bible brings you closer to the Lord. Yes, that’s a “Christianese” saying, but it’s true! God speaks to us through his word, and spending time listening to your creator is always good for you.

2. It will help you know what’s true online (and what’s not)

There’s a lot of online debates about the Bible. People argue about what it says about tattoos, ear piercings, women cutting their hair and hundreds of other topics. My advice is to listen less to the bloggers, and read the Bible for yourself to get the answers.

3. God will change and encourage you as you read

God’s word has a way of correcting, or disciplining His children when we go off track..Reading the Bible also reminds us of God’s mercy and love—a love that will carry you through valleys of despair or rejoice in your triumphs.

How to make more time for the Bible in your life

Carving out time isn’t really hard, it’s more inconvenient than anything. It can be as simple as waking up five minutes early to read a daily devotional or listen to an audio devotional as you get ready in the morning. Don’t have time in the morning? Pop in some headphones on the way to school or work and listen to a devotional on the go.

We’re at a time in our lives where not having the “right” option is not an excuse any more. Doodlebugs can get their hands on coloring book devotionals or journals for their daily readings. Podcasts of sermons are easy to download.

The closer you draw to the Lord, the more His will, or His plan, will become clear. And the only way to do that is to find time, to carve out the minutes in our day, to read or listen to His word.

Are you focusing on the right things?

Satan would rather fill your mind with useless information, cluttered feeds on famous people and fashion trends. He’s not new to this, he’s been around for thousands of years. Satan knows how to distract you from God, and your phone and computer are ripe for your attention.

When you spend time chatting with online friends, with no real depth or gravity, those are just daytime friends—they don’t stick around for the hard times. With your best friends, you make sure to call or text them because you are close with them. The same is true with God – if you want to get to know Him better, you need to make time for Him.

In the time it takes you to read the top thirty-seven Pinterest fails, to look at who is dating who, or why red shoes with a burnt orange skirt may not always work, you could instead be developing a stronger relationship with God.

Long after the last Facebook post fades out, He will still "feed" you daily—if you just give Him the time.