January for a runner often means trying out all the new Christmas running gear. I have a new outfit, some new shoes, some wireless headphones, and a new GPS watch. I set out on my run in all my new "stuff," looking the part of a serious runner. My new watch quickly located satellites, and I was on my way. Despite the new swag, my run was pitifully slow. I felt the weight of all my holiday events and indulgences and struggled. My husband called and asked how things were going. I told him not well. He was curious if the watch was not working, or the headphones, and I assured him that it was not a technology fail; the real problem was me.
Just like present day runners have all kinds of neat gadgets and gear at our disposal, Christians have more opportunities to read God's word than ever before. We have Internet sites, social media, and apps that show the Bible and commentary on our laptops, tablets, and cell phones. We even have plans for reading the Bible that will send us a reminder message to read His word. We have greater access to Biblical knowledge than any generation before us. So why do we often fail to read God's word or when we do, why do we often fail to hear Him speak to us? The problem is us. We indulge so much in the world that we leave little room for serving Him. We take care of all our worldly responsibilities and give Him the left overs. We focus on the world all day long and then wonder why we don't feel God as deeply as we want to. We even find ourselves focused on the world when we are reading His word or praying. Just as we can't have quality conversation with our children or our husband while watching TV or playing on Facebook, we can't focus on God when we are just staring at a screen. I love technology and think that it is a great tool for spreading the Gospel. I often use technology to read my Bible, but we must always be mindful that we are focused on Him and not other things.
In Proverbs 4: 20-22, the Bible says, "My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words, Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body."
God's word is so precious, and we have access to it 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Sometimes all this access can make us take it for granted. Technology is not the problem; the problem is us. I hope in this new year to use technology to read God's word, spread His word, bring comfort to others, and praise His name. I know that I often struggle with letting technology get in the way of my walk with God and spending quality time with my family. I pray that as God's word says, I will learn not to lose sight of His words and let them penetrate into my life in every area.
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