CELL DARE

Fasting used to be a big sacrifice and it was used often to feel connected with God. People that didn’t even know if they had a tomorrow or next meal would fast. Today, people don’t even want to fast for medical reasons. It’s hard to go hungry with McDonald’s right around any corner.

Fasting is a very rare concept in this world and few of us would consider it and if the sacrifice was between giving up food or a cell phone, food would be quickly tossed out.

People have given up food to be near Christ but could you give up your cell phone? I’m not saying “forever”, I’m just saying for 24 hours. Call it a “Cell Dare”.

How attached are you to your cell phone? Does it make you feel stronger or important somehow? You say it keeps you connected and you love to caress it as you gaze upon its screen and tap away text messages. Has it become your friend that you can talk to?

You love the look of mystique or importance when you are driving or walking through a public place, proudly talking loud so everyone in ear shot knows your importance. Wouldn’t you feel infinitely more important being connected to God?

What if you shut your cell phone off for a day? The screen will go blank but it hasn’t died. You have faith that it will light back up after the 24 hours. What if you used that time to get in touch with God? Do you have faith that He will still light up now that the phone is off? Try it.

Prayer is the ultimate text messaging. Imagine the love in His eyes when He hears the long lost voice of His friend. Yes, He is a friend you can talk to but you actually have to take the initiative.

I have a cell phone but I’m a poor choice for the test. My phone is over 10 years old and has no bells or whistles. I’ve never texted and never plan to. I have it because I am handicapped and my wife wants me to have it in case I need to call 911. I’ve called her at work just so I still know how to use it and she’s always yelling at me for leaving the house without it. I don’t even know the number of that phone and never have it turned on so it’s useless to call me. I’m old; simple as that. I praise God for the shape my body is in because I’m alive and connected with Him instead of an unfeeling piece of plastic.

I think about how my life would have been if the stroke never happened. I had a job that required travel between offices and I was on the Interstate a lot. When I was still working, cell phones were in their infancy and still a novelty. The person that has my job now has to stay connected with both offices at all times.

I know that if I was still working that job, I’d be forced by the boss to learn text messaging and I’d probably attempt it while I was driving, like I see so many doing today. Considering the places I drove, I would have killed or been killed doing so by now. After all, I admit that I don’t have the skill to concentrate on that many things at once but at least I admit it where few will.

On the way to a meeting at church one night, I saw a young woman drive her massive SUV up a curb in rush hour traffic because she was texting while driving. She had a sign in her window reading, “Baby on board”.

The guy in the pickup next to her gave her an obscene gesture for nearly hitting his truck but that may have come from fear as much as anger. Had he hit her truck, he may have killed the baby on board. Maybe God was interfering in an attempt to wake her up and make her think of that cell phone addiction.

Yes, I believe cell phone use is an addiction and prayer can help with any addiction. He doesn’t charge for minutes used and you don’t need your thumb so there is no chance at tendinitis or carpal tunnel syndrome. You can even pray silently if your voice goes out. He will still hear you!

If the opposite were true and prayer is an addiction, then I’m an addict but please, no intervention. I sincerely have a friend in Jesus and He won’t hang up on me and the connection is never lost just because of a tunnel or big building.

Thinking back to the job I had before the stroke, I know I would have much more than cell phone addiction. I had a very good job and would have had money for a much better house with more toys than I could have time for. Maybe I could have found time for Jesus in that scenario but I think I was heading down a dark path and would have found a way to lose the connection.

If you have all the toys and the big home yet are still strong in your faith and connected to your church, you are blessed. If that’s the case, give the 24 hour test to your kids before you lose their connection.

When you’re driving along and someone sees you praying, they will laugh because it will look like you’re talking to yourself. If you see them laughing, wave a friendly, “hello” and then include them in your prayers.

Let me know how your “Cell Dare” worked. I’ll talk with Jesus tonight and let Him know you’ll be calling.

And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Daniel 9:3

Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.
1 Chronicles 16:11