Hello friend- love that we get to connect so often these days to dive into our hearts and calendars with our faith in Christ as the foundation. Speaking of which, have you thanked God for your phone today? I know- It’s tempting to have a love-hate relationship with technology since on the one hand it can be a hindrance and burden, but on the other it can be a tool and blessing.
It’s really not a matter of the phone, but of the heart.
Have you been picking up on that as we’re going through this REDEEM Her Phone-Time Series? I’m not here to convict or condemn, but to encourage and equip so that you can live out Ephesians 5:15-16…
Look carefully then how you live, not as unwise but as wise, REDEEMING the time because the days are evil.
Remember, that truth in God’s Word was inspired by the Holy Spirit through Paul well before the digital revolution. Interesting how the principles always apply, even though the cultural context may have changed.
We’ve just started reading The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer inside the REDEEM Her Time Community and the first section covers the problem in our hurried culture today…things just keep getting faster and faster- including the way information comes to us.
Do you know what technology came on the scene in 1440 that changed everything? The Gutenburg printing press.
And did you know the Gutenberg Bible was the earliest major book printed using mass-produced movable metal type in Europe? It marked the start of the “Gutenberg Revolution” and the age of printed books in the West.
That invention helped get the Word of God into the hands of more people.
Fast forward to the year 2007- and do you know what technology significantly changed everything about what we have access to yet again? The iPhone. (and shortly afterwards in 2008 the Android came out for all my non-iPhone friends)
Think about the access to truth we now have when we use our phones well as Christian women. That’s reason enough to NOT flush it down the toilet.
Now instead of super-computers that fill a room, we have super-devices that fit in the palm of our hand which allow us to access tools (not just entertainment or mindless fillers, right?) that will help us to love God more and more and to share His truth with others.
This may date me, but I remember the days you had to carry around a tape set to listen to the Bible or worship music, and then we graduated to CD sets (remember those visor CD holders of days gone by?)…all of those were a little clunky and cumbersome to lug around with you from place to place in case you had a spare minute to fill…but now with our cell phones, we can be in a pick-up line, a check-out line, or any waiting line and pop over to the Word to grow in our faith-walk for just a few minutes. And instead of defaulting to social or netflix or online shopping when we’re on the couch or in bed, we can redeem that time with what will grow us spiritually and impact every area of our life.
Why would we NOT use our phones to love God more and more?
I’m curious, have you ever thought of your phone as a tool for your faith-walk (at least before we started this podcast series)? And if so, what tools do you use on it that are making a difference for you? Come on over to the REDEEM Her Time Community and add your two cents to the conversation…and take away even more value too!
“If we learn to use these devices well, they can aid us in loving the LORD even more.” That’s from the Daily Grace Co Redeem Your Phone Bible Study Companion.
So today I thought I’d share 5 of my favorite apps that help me get in the Word and spend time with God that I thought you’d enjoy…let me share them first and then I have a warning with you. Ready to start downloading?
- The Daily Grace Co App. A friend of mine recently introduced me to this company and I’m hooked…cuz they seek to help women see how the Gospel changes everything. I wanted to be intentional about my Bible reading and have support and accountability, so I grabbed the Eden to Eternity Bundle and use it every day to read 3 chapters of the Bible chronologically and see how the Gospel ties into every part of the one big story of Redemption. The app is a great place to dig deeper into scripture with enough teaching that I don’t get lost or give up hope in books like Leviticus or Numbers and also community to connect with others who are seeking to be in their Bible more too. Plus there are endless other studies and resources to access to keep growing a love for God through His Word on a daily basis. Hence, the name, DAILY Grace Co.
- The Bible Hub App. This tool is invaluable if you are a word-nerd or wanna read a passage in another translation or wanna know more about what you’re reading means. I love that with just a tap, I can access all kinds of info that would have taken up volumes of heavy books there’s no way I would have carried around to have on the ready and probably would have collected dust on my shelves because it took too much work to get off the couch to go get them. Now I have Hebrew and Greek at my fingertips along with biblical dictionaries and commentaries so I can dive as deep as I want into understanding so that I can apply it in my life. And a way to look up topics or a verse I want to find, but don’t know the address to (aka chapter and verse)
- The New City Catechism App. This is one I’ve just started using more recently to memorize the important questions and answers of the Christian faith. So many of these truths originally written back in 1646 are found in creeds and statements of faith and are familiar from sermons and books, yet I realized I did not know their source nor have access to it at any time through memorization. The app is broken down into 52 questions and answers such that I can focus on 1 per week. After a few days of reading the answer out loud, I can just look at the question and recite the answer and also easily review the previous questions. (And if you really need to keep it simple, they’ve highlighted a shorter version of each response for kids…of all ages). I’m amazed at how often these come to mind since I’ve started hiding them in my heart- either it’s in response to something I read in Scripture or hear in a sermon or podcast or in relation to a circumstance or conversation happening around me. It’s helping me to build a strong foundation in my faith that’s grounded in the truth of God’s Word.
- The Bible Memory App. Speaking of memorizing, there’s nothing better to hide in your heart than the Word of God. At times, I’ve memorized individual verses, at other times whole passages and at others entire books…not sure if I could quote all of James still now, but at one point I could and there are still lots of pieces of it in there. And here’s the thing about memorizing Scripture- if you ever were without your Bible or your phone with your Bible app, you can still access what you’ve memorized. And I find that the Holy Spirit often brings it to mind and uses it to teach, convict, train and guide. This app keeps what you’re working on handy. I don’t know about you, but memorizing does not come easy, so having a tool to keep me focused and accountable keeps me plugging away when I feel like giving up.
- The Dwell Audio App. Whether you’re a reader or not, there’s just something about hearing the Word that is soul-reaching and soul-transforming (and I’m sure it helps that they pick people with really cool voices to read it). Hearing it has a way of getting it deep inside you. In fact, before the printing press we talked about, even back to Old Testament days of the Isrealites, the people of God had the Word read over them- I think we are missing out when we always read it in print…and silence. And this app gives so many more options than just play- there are daily devotionals, daily Scriptures and entire books at the click of a button. You can also choose to listen to the Bible in a Year instead of flipping the pages and I love the Holy Ordinary playlists for life’s everyday moments like waking, driving, waiting, walking, cooking…having the word in your ears throughout your day is how we can truly dwell in it because it gets down in us and stays there.
So now that you have these 5 apps, there’s 1 more step I want you to do- create a folder. If you recall, that was one of the speedbumps we talked about on Episode 113…but this time it’s not to slow us down in accessing our phone, it’s to put them all in 1 place and make them stand out.
I did this recently on my phone, and do you know what title my iPhone automatically called it? Lifestyle. Yes and Amen- being in the Word is definitely the lifestyle I want to create.
Before we address the warning, I’ve got a BONUS APP for you to add to that folder- your PODCAST APP. If you’re an iPhone user, that’s probably Apple podcasts, and if you’re an Android fan, I’m guessing it’s something like Google Podcasts or Spotify. Wouldn’t you know, in an attempt to clear as much as he can off his phone, my hubby removed his podcast app so now he can’t even listen to my show unless he downloads it again!
Be sure you have it and add that app to your LOVING GOD MORE folder…and follow shows that help you do that. Here are a few faves in my library currently…
Hello Mornings all about how to start your morning off with a simple 3 step plan that lasts just 3 min.
Dwell Differently which helps you memorize just 1 verse a month and dives each week into what it means and how to apply it.
Equip & Empower with Christine Caine which challenges you to live out what God is calling you to in a powerful way.
Strengthening the Soul of your Leadership with Ruth Hadley Barton which focuses on themes in the spiritual life each season…my fav was the sabbath series.
Daily Grace + A Year In The Bible With Daily Grace these are actually 2 different podcasts from the same source- Daily Grace is about how the Gospel changes everything and A Year In The Bible is a 7 min commentary each day to go along with the chronological reading plan I’m doing
And of course, REDEEM Her Time often I’ll listen to my own podcast and feel like it was meant just for me, cuz I too am still struggling to make the best use of my time.
Here’s a PRO TIP when it comes to podcasts so that you don’t hang on the couch with your earbuds in all day long…I’ve got 2 actually.
- Listen on 1.5 or 2x speed. Most people talk really slowly so you can totally understand them if it’s sped up. Plus then it takes less time. My hubby makes fun of me when I do this, but I just tell him, “You just don’t listen fast enough.”
- Listen while you work…do-do-do-do…Seriously, I don’t think I ever just sit still and listen unless it’s a second time to take notes. I listen while I get ready in the morning, wash dishes, cook, fold laundry, mop the floors, drive, walk….if I’m not with someone else (which I know is a luxury of being an empty-nester) chances are I’m listening to a podcast…or just being quiet and listening to God. I will say that back in the day when I was a taxi mom and I carted those CDs around in my holder, I still put them on with my kids in the back- then they got to soak up all the good truth too!
And about that WARNING- Are you ready to hear it?
Make sure that your time in God’s Word is primary and your time in devotionals, Christian blog posts and even podcasts is secondary. There is no substitute for letting God speak through His Word directly into your heart. But there is also no shame in hearing how others interpret it too…just be sure it’s after you let the Holy Spirit do His work.
So are you inspired? Good, I was hoping so. And remember, the Enemy is also feeling threatened because you’re starting to shift how you use your phone to love God and His Word more and more…but that’s ok cuz..
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, for greater is HE that is in you than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4
The battle is real, so let’s pray.
Dear Father-
Thank you for Your Word and for choosing to reveal yourself to us through it. Give us a hunger for your word more than the sweetness of anything else the world or our phones have to offer. Draw us to spending time with you before we allow anything or anyone else to shape our minds and direct our day. Help us to be intentional with this tool you have given us as a way to love you more and more and may we then go share and apply what you show us in every area of our lives. We can’t wait to grow with the help of your Spirit and one another. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Let’s do it. Go download those 5 Apps and pop over inside the community to share other apps you love that we might too!
Thanks for joining me for this episode and until next time, remember…
You DO have ALL the time you need to do ALL He has called you to.
Be available to who + what matters most in this season and in light of eternity…
Cuz you are here for Such a Time as This.
Binge the REDEEM Her Phone-Time Challenge Series
Ep 105 No Time? The #1 Tip to Find 1-4 Hours in your Day for Better Time Management
Ep 106 Distracted by Your Phone? 2 Key Steps for Christian Women to Overcome Digital Distraction
Ep 107 Wish You Could Break-up with Your Phone? 3 Steps to Start Setting Healthy Screen-Time Boundaries
Ep 108 Don’t Live on Good Intentions. 4 Steps to Create a Personalized Phone-Time Plan to Prioritize What Matters
Ep 109 Wish your Phone wasn’t so Distracting? 5 Tips to Dumb-down your Smartphone to get more Time in your Day
Ep 110 3 Steps to Build the Kingdom of God with your Phone-Time as a Busy Christian Woman
Ep 111 Put it down. 5 NO Phone Zones for Better Time Management
Ep 112 Is your Phone Shaping You? 3 Questions to Ask to Be Transformed by God Instead
Ep 113 5 Speed Bumps You can Create to Make your Phone Less Accessible and Better Manage your Time
Ep 114 Don’t be a Hypocrite. 3 Steps to Redeem your Phone-Time (& heart) as a Christian Woman
Visit the REDEEM Her Time Website https://redeemhertime.com
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