When I was growing up, unplug meant removing an electrical plug from an outlet. Today it means something totally different. Now, if you tell someone you have unplugged, you have taken away your tech devices, such as computers, cell phones, and tablets. You are willfully staying away from Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Instagram, etc. You are choosing to live in the world of real face-to-face relationships. Recently, a lot of research has shown how the tech world is changing the way we think and interact with one another. If it is adversely affecting how we think and relate to others and to God, we need to consider unplugging!
Within each of us, God built the need to rest. Not just physically, but mentally. Our electronic age is seeking to keep us wired all the time. Most of the time, we are too tense to find God in the midst of our moments. Our brains are overstimulated by the constant, instant bombardment of messages, tweets, and alerts. It has been linked to ADHD in children because the brain is overstimulated at an early age by electronic devices. There is even a rise in adult ADHD. Electronics have changed the world, and they are a great addition when used the right way. However, they seem to be at the center of everything we do. Like most things God intended for good, we have abused them, and now they own us.
In Psalm 23:1-3, David is relating to God as our shepherd. We are the sheep, and like any sheep, our shepherd directs us. However, He can only lead if the sheep are willing to follow.
Psalm 23:1-3 “A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
This Shepherd provides all our needs. We shall not want. God wants to be our sustainer. He wants us to be dependent on Him. We seem to have the idea that we only need Him for emergencies or the things we can’t handle ourselves. If He is our Shepherd, and we are his sheep, we are to follow at His bidding.
This good Shepherd provides all that the sheep needs. He provides green pastures. They follow Him to eat in greener pastures they couldn’t find on their own. They don’t fret about the next meal; they obey, follow, and he provides. Because He has taken care of them, they trust Him completely.
The Shepherd not only offers plenty of green pastures, but He also offers a place to rest. When we rest with our Shepherd, it is a peaceful rest. There is freshness, and our energy levels increase. Resting in the Shepherd brings satisfaction. Sheep will not lie down on green pastures if they are not fully fed and satisfied. He offers still waters. These are not stagnant or rushing, tempestuous waters, but a refreshing, gentle stream. This peaceful place to lie down restores their soul.
God wants us to depend on him more and more. We are not to be self-sufficient, but to turn to Him when we can’t do it on our own. He designed us to need Him, to come apart from the world and rest in Him. How twisted our world has become when we feel guilty for taking time to unwind. How much time and energy has been wasted by always being on the go, rather than taking time to seek Him? He did not choose us based on our strengths, but rather on our weaknesses, because they amplify our need for Him. The more we depend, the more He leads. With Him in the lead, we can have peace that passes all understanding. We will be satisfied. We can have peace on the inside when everything on the outside is falling apart.
He has called us to walk down the paths of peace with Him. We are to show those who come behind us how to unplug and connect with the true source of strength and peace. If we don’t take the time to lay aside our distractions, they will show up in our daily walk with God, but they will also affect those who are watching us.
Start today by unplugging and laying aside your electronic devices. Enjoy hours with your family and friends. Enjoy time with God and with His simple written word. I’m not against electronics. If I were, you wouldn’t be reading this, but I am against some of their effects. Test yourself and see if you can. Do you own them, or do they own you?
