The Digital Fast
As a church, we are stepping into a 40-day digital fast designed to decrease distraction, increase devotion, and use technology more intentionally. We are participating in the cry of Psalm 119:37 turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
Our day's fixation with technology has robbed us of true life. As the body of Christ, we are choosing to intentionally disconnect, understanding that this digital fast is not the ultimate fix for all our issues, but rather a means to access the solution – an encounter with the person of Jesus and allowing Him to capture our hearts, transform our minds, and give our lives back. We are embracing a greater vision of the life God has intended for us to live together.
"Technology is never neutral because it shapes us. And if one thing is clear, it is that digital technology and our devices have been – and currently are – shaping us. We could look at it another way and say that our digital devices and use of digital technology are discipling us."
– Darren Whitehead
We invite you to prayerfully consider what the Lord is calling you into for your digital fast – it may not look the same for everyone who participates, but know that what you're willing to put into this affects what you'll get out of it. We also invite you to identify your core motivations. Doing this will help you set boundaries for technology that will motivate you more than rules will. Below are some options we invite you to consider implementing:
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Turn the notifications off your phone (or limit notifications to certain hours).
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Don't sleep in the same room as your phone.
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Consider buying an alarm clock.
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Make your smartphone "dumb"
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Think about it through the lens of "distraction" versus "utility" and remove anything from your phone that can be done on a computer or tablet.
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Eliminate all other screens for personal use (TV, video games, etc.).
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Limit digital technology to only work apps, during work hours (again, think about what is distraction versus what is utility).
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Distraction may include: social media, news apps, online shopping, email, web browsers, etc.
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Utility may include phone, text, calendar, weather, calculator, camera, etc.
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Let us know that you're participating and join us in our devotion and prayer guide!
How Do I Participate in the Digital Fast?
Have a Testimony? Let Us Know!
Stay Connected With Us!
In our commitment to the Digital Fast, we will be not be active on our social media platforms. To stay up to date with what's happening at Grace City, you can visit GCEvents.Boston, subscribe for our weekly newsletter, or sign up for our text messaging system.
To sign up for Grace City text messaging, text 'START' to (833) 921-1054.
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What If My Job Requires Digital Technology?We recognize that many of you work in fields where digital technology is inescapable – whether you work in social media, content creation, or are required to be on your email. This digital fast is NOT an excuse to stop doing your job or avoid your responsibilities, but it is an invitation to set healthier boundaries. We encourage you to limit digital technology to only work apps, during work hours. So, if you need to use instagram for work, you can limit it to work related use during work hours. Additionally, we encourage you to remove apps off of your phone that can be accomplished on a laptop or tablet. No matter the nature and requirements of your job, there are steps that you can take to use digital technology more intentionally and establish healthier boundaries that help you decrease distraction and increase your devotion to Christ.
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What is the Purpose of the Digital Fast?This Digital Fast is intended to help us experience mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual renewal by disconnecting digitally. Our hope for you is that through participating, you may turn down the digital noise, and be better positioned to hear the voice of God. Through this digital fast, we are not suggesting that we are anti-technology, or that you should abandon your work and responsibilities for these 40-days. What we are doing is inviting you into 40 days where you can intentionally decrease digital distraction and see what happens in you and in your relationships.
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How Do We Engage in This?We invite you to pray through what your participation in the digital fast will look like. Keep in mind that you'll get out of this what you're willing to put into it. Darren Whitehead, author of The Digital Fast, outlines the following commitments of the digital fast: Turn the notifications off of your phone – shut off the needless buzzing and resist the urge to constantly reach for the phone. Let your phone sleep in another room – doing this will prevent technology from being the last thing you consume at night and the first thing in the morning. Make your smartphone dumb – think about your phone through the lens of distraction (video/streaming apps, shopping, social media, news apps, games, internet browsers, etc.) versus utility (phone, text, calendar, camera, weather, etc.). You may also put your phone in grayscale to make it less attractive/addictive. Eliminate all other screens for personal use (gaming, TV, etc.) Limit technology to only work apps, during work hours Find ways to purposefully reengage with life (read, journal, exercise, share meals with others). You may also consider using your time and space to regularly attend the Prayer Room.
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Why Are We Doing This as a Church?We believe that the Church should be leading the culture when it comes to technology. By participating in the digital fast as a church body, we hope to overcome digital distraction and be led back to spiritual clarity and connection. We believe that we, as the Church, can positively impact a larger collective action problem that grips our day. Jonathan Haida, author of The Anxious Generation, makes the claim that "religious communities can lead the way in reversing the mental health crisis, showing the rest of us, here's how you raise kids in the digital age." Additionally, it is important to step into this corporately, as the body of Christ, because digital addiction is a collective action problem that must be addressed with collective action. If done collectively, it becomes much easier to do!