Closer To God This Christmas By Trevor Hudson Sýnishorn

A Media Fast

Many of our distorted desires are formed by the images we receive through social media. Images bombard us with ideas about things we must buy, how we are supposed to look, clothes we have to wear, where we should eat, places we must visit, games we must play, and the list goes on and on. 

Our constant exposure to media not only creates in us unhelpful appetites; it also robs us of time that we could have given to activities that are far more creative and life-giving. For this reason, a media fast could be a fun experiment.

Not only may God use it to grow your Christ focus, but it may also open your life to greater freedom and contentment. 

What does a media fast look like? It could mean that when you are at home you fast for a few hours from things like watching TV, catching up on Facebook, playing video games, surfing the web, responding to emails, answering your mobile phone and so on. 

Giving up these activities for a few hours may sound rather frightening at first. You may even experience some withdrawal symptoms, but the spiritual benefits could be surprisingly immense. You are declaring that Christ is your master, not the media. How about giving it a go?

Daily practice

Today, plan a media fast in the evening, either today or tomorrow. Think about what you will do during this time of fasting—spending time with your children, having coffee with a friend, going for a walk or just being quiet on your own. 

This fast will be your way of saying, “I refuse to live under the dominion of the media. I choose to live more freely and peacefully with Christ.”