I’m addicted to My Phone; But I’m learning to work the principal

I’m addicted to My Phone, But I’m learning to work the principle or put first things first.

Common symptoms of phone addiction.

Doom scrolling
Withdrawal and anxiety
Preoccupation and loss of control.
Conflict and social interference.
Nomophobia, the obsessive use of a smartphone.
Cutting off social activities for screen time and video games.
Fomo, which means fear of missing out.

What does it profit a man to put ministry first, but don’t spend time alone with God?

It’s possible that ministry can become an addiction. The adrenaline from serving. People need me to help them; it becomes like a God-like complex.

That you forget that you need to be ministered to also.

Not just studying to preach a message to the people.

But spending time alone with God is how you get ministered to.

I found out that the hardest thing I could ever do is to enter the quiet place or quality time with the Lord and let Him minister to me or love on me first. Then use me to minister to His people.

Because my brain wants to do! Do! Do! Go! Go! Go! Busy! Busy! Busy! I felt important.

Acts of service I say. Yes, but when do you spend quality time?

Because, every other minute, I’m checking my social media account; the television is blasting; the radio is going. People need to be ministered to and so on and so forth…

I cannot SIT still and just be quiet; listen for God to speak.

Because I’m too busy running my mouth or thinking🤔.

Shut up, Karen, I said to myself.

Listen to God for a change. This “little bit of wisdom” from the Lord, might just save your life, I said.

Wisdom is the principal thing; Proverbs 4:7-9. Get wisdom!

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God; Matthew 6:33.

Ahh! But I’m learning to work the principle, which is to put first things first.

Working the principal means adhering to a set of ethical guidelines or standards FIRST, as a child of God, a Christian, a disciple, and a church member.

And then working with the principal in my ministry.

But sometimes, I get it backwards or twisted. Like spending all this time in ministry, ministering to people. And then if I have time left over, use that for God.

And before you know it, without warning, pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall or exposure; Proverbs 16:18.

But I’m learning to work the principal by…

1. Setting aside quality time for God. Blot out time on my calendar.

This decade is not about doing ministry but spending time with… ever since the PANDEMIC and quarantine, there has not been much activity for ministry; we’ve had nothing but time with God. Use your time wisely.

2. Taking care of myself by being and doing what the Lord told me to do. Examples: giving tithes and offerings, praying, praising God, reading my Bible, and work-life balance, etc.

These are my responsibilities.

I do a wellness check every day to keep my spirit, soul, and body healthy. Such as, put on my oxygen mask first, then…

3. Taking care of people, helping others by praying for them, comforting and encouraging them.

So, help me, Holy Spirit, to NOT be addicted to my phone.

But to be Addicted to Jesus song by Carman.

Bonus Music Track: Brandon Lake is a Rockstar in the making.

Sing: Ready the weapon of praise, Seven’s song by Brandon Lake.

Proud👏of you, bro!