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Take Your Bible Study to the Next Level

Have you ever wanted to go deeper in your Bible study but felt stuck? Maybe you’ve been asked to lead a study or preach a sermon and didn’t know where to start. I’ve been there—overwhelmed by a sea of resources and unsure which ones were worth the investment.

That’s when I discovered Logos Bible Software, and it has been a game changer in my study of God’s Word.

Why I Love Logos

For years, I struggled to justify the cost of a full commentary or reference book for just one study. But with Logos, I have access to:
    •    Word Study Tools: Instantly look up the original meaning of words.
    •    Comprehensive Commentaries: Explore trusted insights on any passage.
    •    Bible Dictionaries and More: Everything you need for in-depth study in one place.

Whether you’re a pastor, teacher, or someone who simply loves the Bible, Logos equips you with the tools you need to grow in your faith.

My Logos Journey

I first heard about Logos at a conference. The demo blew me away, but the price tag held me back. For a few years, I made do with physical books and free online resources. But then, my wife gracious blessed me with the Logos Gold package, and I haven't looked back.

Now, I use Logos every time I prepare a message. From quick word studies to in-depth commentary research, it has become my most-used Bible study tool. Whether I'm at home or on the road, Logos is has everything I need to study God's Word. It even has an AI assistant to help me dig through all my resources for a specific answer. With Logos, I can perform hours of research in seconds!

Beyond Bible study, I can also use Logos to:

• Plan my sermon calendar
• Write my sermons
• Create Presentations
• Use a Bible reading plan
• Organize my prayer life

Affordable Options for Everyone

The good news? Logos is more accessible than ever:
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Why It’s Worth Trying

For the cost of two coffees a month, Logos gives you a personal theological library at your fingertips. Whether you’re preparing for ministry or personal study, Logos is an investment in your spiritual growth.

Ready to Get Started?

Don’t just take my word for it—experience the power of Logos yourself.
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When you keep your subscription, you’ll not only bless your Bible study but also support my ministry. It’s a win-win!

Desperate Situations and Desperate Decisions

When is the last time you were in a tough situation that caused you to make a bad decision? So often, situations feel desperate, and we make choices in the moment that we may regret later. Over the years, I’ve found myself in seemingly desperate situations that have cost me lots of time and money.

One time, I paid someone $250 for a consult to be on a music production team only to be forgotten, discouraged, and more broke than when I started. I proceeded to purchase music production courses, cheat sheets, and more. I never made a dime, but several people profited from my desperation. What was supposed to bring me money actually ended up costing me more money in the long run.

The Allure of Quick Fixes

Maybe you’ve been in a similar situation. Multilevel marketing schemes come and go. Get-rich-quick schemes tempt you to invest your hard-earned cash only to leave you behind. That too-good-to-be-true job opportunity turns out to be untrue after all. It’s frustrating—especially when we’re genuinely striving to glorify God in everything we’re doing.

Sometimes we pray, seek God’s answer, and think we’ve received a “yes” when really, He was calling us to hold on.

We’re not alone.

In Genesis 16, Abram and Sarai found themselves in a similar situation. God promised Abram land and offspring, but it didn’t seem like His plan was unfolding. In his mid-80s, Abram had no children, and his wife was barren. Infertility plagued their marriage, and it didn’t seem like God was going to use Sarai’s womb to fulfill His promise.

Sarai decided to help God along. Instead of waiting, she gave her servant Hagar to Abram, assuming this was God's intended plan.

That must’ve been what God wanted, right?

Wrong!

Instead of fulfilling God’s will, they walked their own path. It cost them far more than they imagined.
    •    Hagar was misused and abused by her masters.
    •    Sarai was provoked to anger and contempt toward Hagar.
    •    Abram and Sarai’s marriage was strained.
    •    Hagar fled, alone and pregnant, heading for Egypt.

It was a huge mess! Impatience and sin led to dire consequences for the aging couple and their young servant.

God’s Mercy and Healing

Yet, God is a healing and merciful God.

God saw Hagar and allowed her son, Ishmael, to live. Though his life would be challenging (“a wild donkey of a man”), God demonstrated mercy by hearing Hagar’s cries and meeting her in her distress (Genesis 16:11-13).

God also brought healing to Abram and Sarai. Instead of punishing them for their doubt and pride, He fulfilled His promise by giving them a son, Isaac, through Sarai’s womb (Genesis 21:1-3). Their marriage was healed, and Isaac became the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abram.

But they had to wait another 14 years to see the promise fulfilled.

Maybe God is Calling Us To Wait

We may feel that we’re in a desperate situation requiring urgent change. However, God often urges us to slow down and wait for His answer. In Psalm 46:10, He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

When we focus on Jesus, we begin to look like Him. Perhaps the desperate situation is pushing us out of our comfort zone so we can find true comfort and spiritual peace in God.

Whatever you’re going through right now is not too big for God. He’s strong enough to carry you through. But we must remind ourselves to trust God’s timing and plans rather than rushing to make our own way.

When you're in a desperate situation, take time to pray, seek His will, and trust His perfect timing. What feels desperate to us is fully within His control. Waiting may be hard, but God’s promises are always worth it.

​How can you lean into God’s plans for your situation in this season?

Does God ever get your attention in ways that you simply can't miss? Do you ever read something or ponder an idea, only to have it show up in your reading, conversations, or social media feed? This morning, God got my attention. He reminded me of a reality that has been reverberating in my mind for at least a few weeks: As American citizens, we can't let our identity be driven more by our national citizenship than by our heavenly citizenship.

In my study of Philippians 1:27-30 this week, I came across a powerful quote from Hywel Jones. He was defining Paul's meaning behind "let your manner of life be worthy," and he said this:

"The verb which Paul uses to describe the kind of life which is appropriate to the gospel would have been very meaningful for the Philippians. It is the term from which our word 'politics' is derived. It means something like 'to conduct oneself as a citizen.' Doubtless, Paul chose this term deliberately, knowing how conscious and proud the Philippians were of their citizenship."
Philippians: For the Sake of the Gospel (2016), p. 62.

As an American, citizenship and "politics" have been on my mind—and in my conversations—a lot lately. I have been pondering and writing about how American Christians can live and vote in a way that magnifies Christ and preserves unity among believers. It's fascinating that, in God's providence, I am studying a passage that basically says, "conduct yourselves as citizens worthy of the gospel of Christ."

This statement from Paul speaks volumes to Christians today. Notice what Paul didn't say. He didn't say: "Conduct yourselves as citizens worthy of the Republican or Democratic parties." He also didn't say: "Conduct yourselves as good citizens worthy of American values." Paul's aim is far higher than earthly citizenship. He says, "Conduct yourselves as citizens worthy of the gospel of Christ." In other words, the way you live your life should reflect the reality that you have trusted in the gospel work of Christ.
​
Contrary to popular belief, the world is not friendly to Christians—at least not forever. Non-Christians may be sympathetic to our beliefs, but when push comes to shove, they will oppose Christ and His followers rather than stand side by side for the faith of the gospel. They may cater to our desires to win our votes or gain something from us, but they will never ultimately stand on the side of Christ. As Paul says here, they are on the path to destruction (Phil. 1:28).
Are you living as a citizen worthy of the gospel? Let's keep striving with our eyes on Christ to stand firm together for the sake of the gospel!

Tiny choices can destroy our lives.

“Ugh. Not again.” That’s what I murmured under my breath as I looked at the scale and saw that I’d gained three pounds since late last week. I knew it was coming, too. We had a family get-together with “finger foods,” and I absentmindedly ate tortilla chips, creamy homemade cheese dip, chemical-free chocolate chip cookies, and a platter of other tasty but unhealthy foods. Little by little, I consumed 100 to 300 portions of calories throughout the day until I reached 3,000 or more calories.

Imagine doing this every day for a year. If my body’s caloric need is 2,000 calories per day, and I eat 1,000 to 1,500 extra calories, that adds up to 550,000 extra calories per year. While I don’t eat like that every day, even an extra 250 calories (a few handfuls of M&Ms or Cheez-Its) would mean an additional 91,000 calories over the year. 250 calories doesn’t seem like much, but 91,000 is massive. While I don’t fully trust the math, that adds up to an extra 12 pounds per year. I’ve certainly seen my weight fluctuate by 5 to 10 pounds in a year. That’s scary.

Small Habits, Big Consequences
Atoms are tiny, but atomic bombs make massive impacts. So it is with our habits. The smallest habits can bring great catastrophes or great gains. James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, says it this way: “You should be far more concerned with your current trajectory than with your current results.” In other words, where are your habits leading you?

The way we eat can have significant long-term impacts on our physical, mental, and emotional health. Imagine how our spiritual health is impacted by small habits. A few lustful glances, an impure thought, and some unrepentant anger every day, and we are on the path to patterns of sin, and perhaps a spiritual crisis. Even if we don’t have a huge fall into some major public sin that ruins our reputation, we may just be drifting, drifting slowly away from Christ. Just 5 minutes of compromise every day adds up to nearly a work week’s worth of choosing sin.

Habits for God
Let’s imagine a better way forward. What if we stole 15 minutes per day from our habitual phone use and gave it to God? Those 15 minutes would not only be more fruitful, but they’d also bring us closer to God. He’s not adding up the minutes to make sure we hit a certain amount. But if eternal life is to know God (John 17:3), then we would certainly benefit from spending more time with Him. If we want to suffer with bold confidence and say, “I know whom I have believed,” we must spend time getting to know the Lord we believe in. In other words, small habits of reading, praying, meditating, or conversing about the gospel could pay great spiritual dividends over time.

“Yes. I’ve done it again!” I want to be able to utter these words after fighting hard to stick to healthy eating habits over the long haul. I also want to say, “Lord, thank you for that truth you revealed to me again!” after spending 10-15 minutes reading and meditating on His Word. Just as we don’t drift toward weight loss and a healthy body, neither will we grow in our faith simply by waking up and doing what we naturally do. We also can’t treat spiritual disciplines and habits like we do our diet and exercise. We can’t willpower or muscle our way to deeper faith. We must submit our souls to the Spirit of Christ and watch for Him to do spiritual work in us (Rom. 12:2).

How are tiny habits impacting your life? With the help of the Holy Spirit, our hearts can be trained to love God. Our habits will follow our hearts and help shape our hearts to be more Christlike!


***This post contains an affiliate link to Amazon. If you purchase Atomic Habits,  a portion of the proceeds will be given to me to help Dwell With Christ stay up and running!***

As a Bible reader and pastor, I often encounter memes, gifs, and perspectives that misuse the Bible. Participating in No-Scroll November, I’ve been checking social media occasionally to view notifications and see whatever post is at the top of my feed. Instead of scrolling for more, I look at that post and then log off. This practice has been good for my soul, allowing me to stay updated with at least a few perspectives from those around me.

One perspective that has shown up in my comments, as well as at the top of my feed, reads:

​“To think that God ordained a filthy-minded, adulterous, wealthy man with evil in his heart to preside over a nation challenges my self-righteous understanding. But He did, and that sinful man, by grace, gave us the Psalms. #KingDavid"

Some Truths from the Post
To be fair, I want to highlight some helpful aspects of the post before addressing its half-truths. I’ll keep my comments brief, but I feel it’s necessary to address this viral post.

1. God Uses Wicked Men to Glorify Himself

Anyone who has read more than a few pages of the Bible knows that God uses sinful people to bring glory to Himself. From Abram to King David, the Apostle Paul to Peter, God has used sinful men to be the forefathers of our Savior, write large portions of the Bible, and spread the gospel of Christ throughout the world. Look at what Paul said about himself: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” (1 Timothy 1:15).

2. God Has Allowed Wicked Men to Rule His People

One truthful aspect of this post is that God used King David to rule over Israel. When David was a young shepherd, Scripture describes him as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22). As a king in Israel, David’s reign was characterized by justice and fairness (1 Chronicles 18:14). Yet, his life was marred by grievous sins: lust, adultery, murder, and a cover-up. His affair with Bathsheba would have made headlines, and his scandal would have circulated globally. Still, God used him.

3. We Need Our Self-Righteousness Challenged

Anyone who struggles with self-righteousness needs that attitude challenged, and God often appoints that challenge in our lives. The most self-righteous people in Scripture put our Savior on the cross, and apart from Jesus Christ, our “righteous” deeds are filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Regardless of the presidential candidate, God hates our self-righteousness and will appoint ways to destroy it in our hearts—sometimes through the sins of a political leader.

Some Half-Truths We Need to Discuss
Despite the truths in this viral post, some half-truths must be addressed to properly compare King David with Donald Trump. After such a comparison, we’ll see that these men actually stand in stark contrast.

1. David Grieved Over His Sin; Trump Appears Indifferent to His Sins.
While David may be described as a “filthy-minded, adulterous, wealthy man with evil in his heart,” this is an unfair assessment of his character and life’s trajectory. We’ve already seen David described as a man after God’s own heart. Psalm 51 shows us David’s grief over his affair with Bathsheba:

“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.” (Psalm 51:3-4)

In stark contrast, Donald Trump has expressed a different perspective on his sins. When asked in a 2015 interview if he’s ever asked God for forgiveness, Trump said, “I am not sure I have. I just go on and try to do a better job from there… I don’t bring God into that picture.” This perspective does not align with a biblical understanding of sin or forgiveness and reflects a sense of self-righteousness that relies on personal performance to be right with God. In this sense, Trump is not similar to King David.

2. David’s Writings Contradict This Post’s Claims
This post is crafted to make us think it’s about Trump before revealing it’s about David. This “gotcha” moment can catch us off guard, but digging deeper, we see the differences between their lives. It may not even be fair to define Trump’s life like this. I am not a Trump scholar, and I haven’t read his biography, so I won’t speak on the overall patterns of his life. However, he has made several incriminating statements about women, minorities, immigrants, and even God (by publicly taking His name in vain).

Was David a filthy-minded, evil man? David wrote:

“Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer.” (Psalm 6:8-9)

and also:

“If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.” (Psalm 7:12-13)

David also took forgiveness very seriously, as seen in passages like:

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psalm 32:1-2)

What I’m Not Saying
I’m not saying that God isn’t using Donald Trump to challenge our self-righteousness. God’s ways are beyond our understanding (Isaiah 55:8-9). However, we must be careful when making unhelpful—and potentially false—comparisons between Donald Trump and King David. Prior to the 2016 election, Trump was not considered a Christian leader or model of righteousness. In fact, many political and Christian leaders spoke critically of him leading our nation.

King David, however, is often invoked in discussions of abuse, adultery, and immorality. He sinned grievously, and we shouldn’t defend or minimize his sins—the Bible doesn’t, and neither should we. But we can’t define David or his reign by a single sinful situation when the Bible doesn’t either. In our modern cancel culture, it’s common to write someone off for sins they have long repented of. Yet, the Bible is clear that David repented of his sins, and he accepted the consequences for that sin.

We must never defend or minimize sin. Christ laid down His life to bring justice for sin, proving that God takes it seriously. Nor should we make others feel guilty if they are grieved by a “filthy-minded, adulterous, wealthy man with evil in his heart” presiding over our nation. If Trump doesn’t fit this description, that’s one thing. But if he does, we shouldn’t bring the reputation of a godly leader into question to defend such a man. Doing so causes more harm than good. It also doesn't help us to weep with those who weep.

Election season has come and gone, and we have our next president-elect in America.

​When Donald Trump was put forward as the Republican presidential candidate, I was in utter disbelief. He’s been embroiled in controversy since the 2020 election and the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol building. When he discussed his comeback, I figured it was a silly ploy to get his social media platform and followers riled up. But it wasn’t a joke. He was here for real.

Though I wasn’t surprised by a Kamala Harris ticket, I was intrigued that Biden would step down so late in the game. Harris shared similar stances and policies to Biden, and his presidency hasn't been very popular, so I figured the Democratic party would struggle to rally enough new voters to maintain a president in office. Nonetheless, many polls showed Harris as the favorable candidate in many of the swing states, and it looked as though she might become our new president.

Divided Responses and Uncertain Futures

Many Americans felt as though neither option was ideal. Others felt strongly that their party’s candidate would be the best option during a pivotal election. With our economy reeling from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and massive inflation that followed, many people were ready for a change. Key issues, like abortion, put single-issue voters in a bind because the Republican party made a significant shift on abortion during the RNC. It’s not to say that the two parties were equal on the issue. Rather, Evangelicals who had once claimed allegiance to the Republican party for its stance on abortion now had to deal with a candidate who is much less pro-life than they once realized.

Regardless of how we got here, we are here now. Donald Trump has been elected as the 47th president in United States history.

The responses to this news have been manifold and complex. Many of my friends who are Democrats have been lamenting this news and grieving the prospect of another Trump presidency. They are especially nervous for women and minorities due to the potential social ramifications that would come from such an election. Many of my friends who are Republicans are rejoicing and thanking God for this election. They see it as God’s provision and protection from "woke" and far-left ideology in America.

Others of my friends who, like me, are not aligned with a political party are struggling, too. How do we guard against unbiblical and unhelpful far-left ideologies threatening our churches and families? At the same time, how do we guard against the godlessness and unhelpful rhetoric that spews from far-right politicians seeking to woo Christians into secular forms of nationalism and conservatism? There’s a lot to process here.

A Sobering Picture of Human Kings

As a Christian, these times aren’t without hope. By God’s providence, I’ve been reading about some of the corrupt kings in Israel’s history while also preparing to teach on Melchizedek in Genesis 14. God has reminded me that His word is always relevant, especially in times like these.

As I read about Israel’s kings just prior to their exile to Babylon, I am struck with a real sense of sinful depravity. Even under a theocracy with the Word of God coming directly to them through prophets, Israel’s kings foolishly disobeyed the LORD. There were some cases where the prophet  basically said, “Do exactly this and you will be spared. Do otherwise and you will die” (see Jer. 38:14-28). Despite these clear and vivid warnings from God, the kings disobeyed Him. Through their disobedience, the nation of Israel would be handed over into the grip of their enemies and into exile.

We need Someone far greater than an earthly king who merely promises to do things for our good. We need God's King who isn’t stained by the power and death of sin.

A Hopeful Picture of God's King
​
As I read about Melchizedek and how he foreshadowed Jesus (Genesis 14), I am struck by the glory and goodness of Jesus. Melchizedek, the king of Salem and the king of Righteousness (the meaning of his name), was a priest before the Levitical priesthood existed. He foreshadowed Christ, the ultimate King of Righteousness. Jesus is the King of Peace who reigns over Zion and all the universe. He is a Priest after the order of Melchizedek—a priest greater than every Levite. His sacrifice for His bride and sheep is a once-for-all payment for sin that is unmatched by any priestly sacrifice. His blessing to believers is the promise and hope of having a secure anchor in the face of persecution, threats, and the storms of life.

In Christ, we have a King and Leader who is far greater than Donald J. Trump or Kamala Harris. We have a sinless, holy, and righteous King who never errs or has a lapse in judgment. We have a King who died on the cross and rose again to give peace and righteousness to all who trust in Him. More importantly, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 17:14;19:16). Every earthly leader—president, monarch, high priest—will have to kiss the son or perish (Ps. 2:12). Every leader of every nation will have to bow the knee and confess that Jesus is Lord (Phil. 2:10-11).

A Christ-Centered Perspective Amidst Uncertainty

Whether you were devastated or overjoyed by the results of this election, keeping a Christ-centered perspective is vital for us as we walk through coming days and months. The world is throwing a lot of chaos at us, and we have no idea how this presidency will affect our lives. But we can rest assured that Christ is still King and He ever intercedes for His people. Our hope goes far beyond this world and its political figures.

 This week, I felt that it was important to pray for our congregation and our nation in light of the upcoming election. Regardless of how you're voting—if you're voting at all—I think this prayer could be as beneficial to your soul as much as it was to mine. It's not often that I pray written prayers during corporate worship, but I benefited from slowing down, thinking through the implications of this election in light of 1 Peter 2:13-17, and writing out my heart. 

You may benefit from just reading the prayer. You may also benefit from praying through the prayer directly. Personally, I think reading through the prayer and stopping to pray in light of what I prayed can help personalize the prayer even more for you. Either way, I hope this prayer is a blessing as we approach the 2024 election.

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:13-17 (ESV)
13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,[a] whether it be to the emperor[b] as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants[c] of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Prayer: 

Heavenly Father,

We come to You humbly and in awe of Your power. When we look out at creation, we see Your divine power as the ruler and creator of the whole universe. We see Your upholding hand that keeps the earth spinning while maintaining the right distance from the sun. We see the signs and seasons you’ve created as reminders that though the seasons come and go, You have given order to Your creation.

Lord, we pray this morning that You would prepare our hearts for the upcoming election. Every four years, we vote for the supreme human leader of our nation. We know that You are our highest authority, and yet You have called us to be subject, for Christ’s sake, to every human institution. As much as we are able, without abandoning Your righteousness, help us to truly be subject to our governing authorities.

You have put them here to punish those who do evil and praise those who do good. Help them to do that with justice and righteousness. Bring our government leaders into Your glorious family and save their souls so they can lead from Christlike hearts. But even if they reject the gospel, guide their hearts like a stream of water in Your hands. As the Lord of all, convict and steer them by Your mighty hand even when they don’t want to follow You.

It is Your will that Your people silence foolish people by our good deeds and godly living. By the power of Your Holy Spirit and through the gospel, lead us in those good works. Let our actions and words reflect the righteousness of Christ rather than the recklessness of this current cultural moment. Don’t let us get wrapped up in the bondage of cultural and political agendas. We are free people. Help us to live in that freedom and not use our freedom as a cover-up for evil.

Holy Father, train our hearts to live as Your servants. Like Paul, let us find our identity as true servants of God rather than slaves of men and their agendas. Don’t let us be pawns caught in a game of political chess. We know that no earthly kingdom will ultimately stand. Even the greatest kingdoms have risen and fallen. Let us never forget that! Help us to honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor our president-elect—whoever that may be.

Help us keep our eyes on Christ in this election. Four years won’t come close to comparing to the eternity set before us. Help us to remember that, Lord! Thank You for Your grace and mercy. May we behold and reflect the glory of Christ in this election season.

It’s in the name of Jesus Christ that we pray. Amen.

Is it possible to stop scrolling for a month? What if you could be more engaged, less stressed, and actually present during the upcoming holiday season? Try No Scroll November with me!

Why No Scroll November?

For most of the last decade, I’ve participated in No-Shave November. In honor of bearded men, I’ve made a commitment to let my winter beard growth start in the month of November. It’s pretty amazing how much beard I finish with at the end of the month, and it has me thinking: What if I skipped out on No-Shave November and tried out No Scroll November instead? I’m not sure if someone has already come up with this idea, but I promise I didn’t steal it. It’s something that has been on my mind for a long time, but I haven’t really taken the time to fully implement the plan. Plus, if I come up with a catchy name and invite some friends, maybe I’ll have some extra accountability.

Why No Scroll November in the first place? What does it even mean? Scrolling is the smartphone phenomenon where we open our phones or internet browsers, pull up Facebook or YouTube, and disappear into a black hole for 30-60 minutes at a time. Personally, I know it’s happening, but the algorithm knows EXACTLY which food videos to intersperse with those crazy dunk videos to keep me hooked for just one more video! Scrolling causes my kids to ask me why I care so much about my phone when I get home from a grueling day of work. No Scroll November says “No!” to scrolling for the next thirty days. It says “Yes!” to more important priorities while simultaneously removing a low-priority energy drain from my life.

Scrolling Is a Thief

Scrolling robs me of hours of Bible reading, prayer, family time, fellowship, discipleship, and much more. If I spent my scrolling time reading a book or spending it with my children, I’d be much happier and much less anxious and overwhelmed by the amount of work I have in front of me. I’d be more present with my wife, children, extended family, friends, congregation, and everyone in my life. It’s impossible to pay attention to others when I’m watching a silly one-minute video of a guy reacting to another one-minute video he watched. The day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night (1 Thess. 5:2). It’s easy to get robbed when we’re stuck in a hypnotized trance staring at a glowing light box all the time.

Scrolling Blinds Us to Eternity

Since becoming a pastor, I’ve officiated more funerals than I had ever anticipated this early in my ministry. Death reminds me that eternity is just around the corner. One day you’re talking with someone; the next day, they’ve entered eternity. Perhaps “the next day” is actually a few months or years that passed by far quicker than we realized. Studies show that dopamine changes how we perceive time. And if we are constantly inundated with rises in dopamine from scrolling, it’s easy to see how time moves quicker than we perceive it. Time flies when we’re having fun—or when we’re wasting it looking at our phones. This life is already a vapor (James 4:14), and scrolling vaporizes our time even faster.

Scrolling Manipulates Our Emotions

Social media algorithms know us better than we know ourselves—literally. These complex computer systems track our hand movements, our clicks, and how long we look at an image or video before moving on to something else. Some app developers are trying to build products that could use our biological markers and facial expressions to make content suggestions based on our emotions. Even without such sophisticated technology, anger and fear get more clicks. Strong emotions elicit more views. The most inflammatory videos from the political “bad guys” will show up in our newsfeeds. The saddest or most heartwarming skits will show up on feeds pretending to be true stories. It’s all a game that plays with our emotions. It’s a lot harder to “be angry and not sin” when anger is intentionally being shoved in our faces all day and night.

Let’s say no to the scroll for the month of November. Maybe—just maybe—it will bleed into our December and perhaps even into the new year. Earlier this week, I shared some thoughts about how shifting back to standard time can truly bless our morning routines and help us seek the Lord earlier in the day. Imagine if we woke earlier, stopped scrolling, and spent more time with the Lord to finish out 2024! Perhaps our lives and this holiday season will be radically transformed as we spend more time beholding Christ!