Our Phones and Our Hearts #
Our phones are no longer simple tools. They are small worlds that sit in our hands. They connect us to friends and family, entertain us with endless media, teach us through information, and even help us manage our lives. Yet, these same devices also shape our thoughts, our attention, and even our relationship with God. The Bible never speaks directly about smartphones, but it gives clear truth about the heart, the eyes, our attention, and how we are to live as faithful stewards. These truths guide us in using technology in ways that glorify Christ and protect us from being drawn back into the old life of Adam.
The issue is not the phone itself, but how it captures the heart. In Christ, our inner life has been renewed. The Spirit leads us to live from a different foundation, one that is not enslaved to constant alerts and digital noise, but grounded in the stillness and life of God within. Each notification, each video, and each choice to scroll becomes an opportunity to decide whether our focus is on Christ or on the flesh.
The Practical Changes of Phones #
The influence of phones on daily life is both practical and spiritual. Consider the following table:
| Change | Positive Potential | Danger |
|---|---|---|
| Constant Connection | Stay in touch with loved ones | Shallow relationships, neglect of true fellowship |
| Instant Information | Learn, grow, stay informed | Overload, confusion, misinformation |
| Entertainment on Demand | Healthy relaxation | Addiction, distraction from priorities |
| Productivity Tools | Organisation and reminders | Reliance that weakens memory and discipline |
Phones are not neutral. Each change brings both opportunity and danger. The question for believers is simple: Are these tools serving Christ in us, or are they ruling over us?
The Eyes and the Heart #
Matthew 6:22–23 (AMP)
The eye is the lamp of the body; so if your eye is clear [spiritually perceptive], your whole body will be full of light [benefiting from God’s precepts]. But if your eye is bad [spiritually blind], your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the very light inside you [your inner self, your heart, your conscience] is darkness, how great and terrible is that darkness!
Jesus teaches that the eye is more than sight. It represents focus, attention, and desire. If our eyes are fixed on light, our whole life is filled with clarity and strength. If our eyes are clouded with darkness, our inner life suffers. The phone has become one of the main windows through which our eyes receive content. It can bring in truth, or it can flood us with distraction.
The Greek word for “clear” is “haplous,” which means single or undivided. A single eye sees Christ without distraction. But the old Adamic man, ruled by the flesh, craves what is flashy and indulgent. Endless scrolling, suggestive images, and consumer displays weaken the soul. In Christ, we now see differently. The new man looks through His eyes, seeking the things that belong to His kingdom.
Colossians 3:1–2 (AMP)
Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].
What we allow through our phone’s screen becomes the material that shapes our souls. Choosing wisely is more than avoiding corruption; it is fixing our eyes on Christ, who is our light and life.
Stewardship of Time #
Ephesians 5:15–16 (AMP)
…making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity] because the days are [filled with] evil.
Time is a gift from God. It cannot be regained once wasted. How we use our phones reveals whether we redeem time or lose it. Reading Scripture, encouraging friends with messages, and learning wisdom are good uses of digital tools. But endless scrolling and shallow entertainment steal what could have been invested in Christ.
The believer is not his own. Time belongs to the Lord who purchased us with His blood. Each moment should be weighed at the cross. The question becomes: “Does this use of time lead me deeper into Christ, or does it pull me back into the old ways?” When our mind is renewed, even digital habits can be redeemed, and our hours become seeds sown into eternity.
Stillness Before God #
Psalm 46:10 (AMP)
Be still and know [recognize, understand] that I am God.
Stillness is not simply silence. It is the posture of a heart that turns away from distraction and rests in the presence of God. Phones, with their constant alerts and updates, challenge our capacity for stillness. Yet the Spirit calls us to step aside from noise, put away the device, and listen to Christ.
In this stillness, the inner man is strengthened. The soul aligns with the Spirit, and the life of Christ flows freely. Without such stillness, we remain restless, shallow, and reactive. With it, we know His peace and discern His will. Choosing times each day to put the phone aside creates space for God to speak and renew us.
Idolatry of the Digital #
1 John 5:21 (AMP)
Little children, guard yourselves from idols [false teachings, moral compromises, anything that would take God’s place in your heart].
Idolatry is not only about ancient statues. It is anything that steals the devotion that belongs to Christ. The phone can easily become an idol when it dominates our mornings and evenings, shaping our emotions and controlling our attention.
The Spirit calls us to guard our hearts. Christ must be the first voice we hear each day and the last presence we turn to at night. If the phone quietly replaces Him, it has become an idol. To dethrone it, we give priority to Scripture, prayer, and worship. Christ in us is the only centre. When His presence fills our hearts, no device can enslave us.
Redeeming Our Phone Habits #
| Biblical Principle | Practical Action |
|---|---|
| Guard your heart (Proverbs 4:23) | Curate content; unfollow accounts that stir sin or envy |
| Be present (Philippians 2:4) | Turn off notifications during meals, prayer, and fellowship |
| Seek first the Kingdom (Matthew 6:33) | Make the Bible app the first thing you open each morning |
| Rest in God (Hebrews 4:9–10) | Schedule phone-free hours for rest and worship |
Phones can serve us well, but they must not rule us. In Christ, we learn to use them as tools while keeping our hearts centred on Him.
Final Reflection #
Phones will remain part of modern life. They can serve as tools for learning, connecting, and even spreading the gospel. But they can also drain our attention, waste our time, and capture our hearts if not kept in their place. Scripture gives us the wisdom we need: guard our eyes, redeem our time, remain still before God, and refuse idols. When Christ is our centre, the phone becomes a servant, not a master.
In Christ,
Godwin.
