Facebook Addiction

My name is Jennifer and I'm addicted to Facebook... there I said it.  I already feel better!

I wish like so many people that Facebook were not an addiction for me, but if I'm honest with myself I tend to stalk my computer a lot throughout the day.  I wish like my friend that I had the self-discipline to limit myself to 15-30 minutes a day, but I don't... I cave so easily!

I can't tell you the number of times I've contemplated temporarily deactivating my account... too many to count.  But in recent weeks, I've felt a strong urging from the Holy Spirit that now was the time to take a Facebook fast.  I don't say that to make anyone feel guilty about using social media... this is just something I know I need to do.  It is a perfect time for me to take this fast since my family is on the verge of moving and I have much to pack in the next month, my husband is having surgery shortly after our move and then summer will nearly be upon us.  I want to use this time away from Facebook to spend more time with my family teaching my kids some practical things over the summer months and to evaluate where my focus needs to be.

To be honest, I really struggle with this decision because I fear all that I'll miss in the next several months... what if someone goes on vacation and I don't know about it - GASP!!!!!!  In the end though, I can't ignore the nagging I feel in my heart that this is what I need to do for a season.  Earlier this week, I was listening to a audio cast by John Piper regarding this very issue and it was while listening to him talk about his time of social media fasting that I felt a strong prompting to make the same choice for myself.

What does this mean for Salt and Light?  Really not much, except I will not have the ability to post articles to the Facebook Salt and Light group page.  This was another reason I struggled with the decision to fast from Facebook.  I feel a sense of obligation to the group and I don't want to leave anyone who reads the articles through Facebook high and dry.  So if you would like to continue receiving Salt and Light articles, I would highly recommend you subscribe to the blog to ensure you do not miss anything.  Subscribing is really quite simple... all you need to do is scroll about halfway down the page and on the right sidebar you will see a place that gives you the option to "follow by email".  Please note that I do not have any personal information when you subscribe... it is completely private.

I want to be perfectly clear, I will continue to write articles for the Salt and Light blog (in fact, I have several things written and scheduled to post in the coming weeks)... this fast is only affecting what I post to Facebook.

I love the 10th line in the verses below... "being available to your own families".  It speaks volumes to my heart!

This is the kind of fast day I’m after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I’m interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’ 

 

(Isaiah 58:6-9, The Message)

 

I will leave my Facebook account open for a few more days to ensure you have enough time to link through to subscribe. 

 

On a side note... I want you to know how much I appreciate everyone who reads my thoughts and ramblings.  The kind comments you leave me are very encouraging... Thank you!