Exploring the Impact of Social Media on Our Daily Spiritual Practices
Introduction: The Digital Dilemma
It all starts innocently: You wake up in the morning to do your devotion, then open your Bible app to read a scripture. While reading the scripture, a notification pops up, and you scroll down to check what it is. Then quickly excuse yourself to reply to the message, then come back to finish your devotional. Does this sound familiar?
In today’s digital world, social media has become an almost constant companion for everyone. It updates us, entertains us, and even motivates us. But as we scroll through the feeds and highlights, we should ask ourselves this important question: How is social media shaping our spiritual practices?
The Bright Side: Opportunities For Growth
For many believers, platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok have created opportunities to grow in faith. We can watch live sermons easily, join global prayer challenges, read or watch short daily devotionals (for example, CfaithToday.com), and follow Christian influencers who share daily encouragement.
Faith has been very accessible through social media, especially for new believers, youths, and singles who now find online support for their Christian life.
In many ways, social media has become a digital mission field, and it’s working.
The Challenges: Digital Distraction & Superficial Faith
Behind the convenience of social media lies a quiet struggle. Just like every other tool, how it’s used makes all the difference. Spiritual disciplines like prayer, worship, and meditation on the Word are increasingly competing with curated feeds and constant notifications. Instead of seeking God in stillness, we’re often distracted, comparing, or simply consuming content.
Streaming content constantly (no matter how “Christian” it is) can become noise that drowns out the still, small voice of God. What starts as encouragement can subtly shift into comparison: “Why is my prayer life not like hers?” or “Why is everyone else hearing from God but me?”
And then there’s simple distraction. Notifications interrupt prayer. Scrolling takes priority over Scripture. Our attention period reduces, and with it, the depth of our spiritual lives.
Jesus often withdrew to quiet places to pray (Luke 5:16). But in a world that never shuts down, quiet places can be hard to find, unless we create them ourselves.
Finding Balance: Becoming Digitally Disciplined
So, how do we engage with social media without letting it influence our devotion?
Here are a few practical ways to stay grounded:
- Schedule Time With God First:Begin your day with Scripture and prayer before checking your phone. Give God your first and best attention.
- Using social media intentionally by following educational accounts, setting limits:Curate your feed. Unfollow accounts that stir up insecurity, division, or distraction. Follow creators who point you to Christ.
- Creating “digital sabbaths”:Set aside a day (or even an hour) where you log off completely. Use that time to reconnect with God without screens.
- Encourage a genuine, private spiritual life (Matthew 6:6):Not every spiritual moment needs to be shared. Guard intimacy with God. Let some victories and wrestlings stay between you and Him.
Key Takeaway: Use the Tool – Don’t Let It Use You
Social media is not particularly good or evil. Just like a microphone or a stage, it can amplify whatever message is being spoken. As Christians, we’re called to be salt and light, even in digital spaces.
But we’re also called to live deeply rooted, Spirit-led lives. That means sometimes putting the phone down, closing the app, and sitting in silence with the Lord our Saviour.
Let’s not just scroll through our faith. Let’s walk it out, with our eyes lifted, our hearts open, and our attention fixed on the One who deserves it most.
Reflection Question
How has social media helped or hindered your walk with God?
What’s one step you can take this week to align your online habits with your spiritual life?
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