Just a couple of months ago, I attended a live podcast with my wife, Leslie. There was a comment made about screen time that really stood out to me–here is a quick summary:
The average screen time for Americans is just over 7 hours per day, including 4 of these hours on phones. That works out to 4 months of a year on some type of screen and 2 months of every year staring at a phone screen.
These aren’t fun numbers to consider. For me personally, it’s painful to think about the fact that on days I work, I may see my kids for just a few hours. Then, what’s worse, that means even less time alone with my wife. While 4 hours per day sounds like a lot by itself, it doesn’t hit quite as hard until you hear that 2 months of your year was spent scrolling on your phone. To put this into perspective, my oldest daughter just turned 12 years old. It hurts deeply to think I may have spent 2 of those YEARS scrolling on my phone. To be honest, I was blissfully unaware of how much time was wasted on things that I would consider to be unimportant. Just like I can’t change any of my past sins, I also can’t get that time back. I can, however, shift my priorities to focus on the things that truly matter now.
Matthew 6:33 tells us, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” My relationship with God should always be my first priority. Of course, this is easier said than done. I attend church regularly and serve, have attended Rooted (and led a table twice), led Grace Marriage ministry for a few years, and went through the new Story of God class. Yet through all of that, I had barely cracked open my Bible (but I did add tabs!). All my understanding was based on Bible studies, preaching, or others’ opinions. If God is first, then studying the Bible, His Word, must be at the top of my list.
How to do that looks very different from person to person. I have found that listening to the Bible via the Bible Recap Plan on my 45-minute morning commute has been the most effective approach. Part of my struggles with the Bible are that I start to get overwhelmed with the content, size, and my misunderstanding. I would just urge you that when it comes to spending time in prayer or the Bible, that if you feel lacking in any aspect of this relationship, be intentional in finding a way to make it happen.
What we choose to place on our list of priorities will differ for every person. After God, my wife is priority number two, followed by my kids. The scriptures that come to mind that speak to these priorities are Ephesians 5:25 and Matthew 6:21. In the Grace Marriage class, a common theme for each session is based on that verse in Matthew. Participants go through an exercise where they are intentional about planning time with their spouse over the following months. As much as I could say my wife and I are the best at prioritizing time with each other and the kids, our family time is usually driven by our busy schedules. As I am writing this devotional, my wife and I are trying to fit in time to celebrate our anniversary. We are still a work in progress.
Setting your priorities is not the hard part, but consistency in keeping them there over and over- that is the battle. It is a practice that is intentional, disciplined, and Christ-centered.
