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Home » Rethinking Your Kids' Screen Time
Rethinking Screen Time in 2021

Rethinking Your Kids' Screen Time

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What questions do you have about screen time? Jump to a topic:

Smartphones and Safety
Smartphones and Smart Boundaries
Screens and Online School
Resetting Screen Time
Smartphones and Single Parents (or Grandparents!)
Setting an Example With Screens
Seeking Unity for Screen Time

Even before the coronavirus pandemic shuttered parks, schools, and sports programs for months on end, our kids’ childhood looked different from ours. Most people who grew up before the 1990s spent their free time climbing trees, riding bikes, and inventing games with their friends. A few kids may have had an early video game system, but screens were the exception rather than the rule. Now, our kids have never known a world without smartphones and tablets.

The realities of distance learning and telecommuting have made it an integral part of life. Still, as parents and grandparents, we have a responsibility to weigh our options and understand the implications of placing a screen in our children’s hands.

To address this issue, Turning Point recently interviewed Arlene Pellicane, an expert on the subject who happens to be a long-time friend of the ministry. Before becoming a parent, Arlene played a crucial part in our production department. Now that her kids are older, she devotes herself to encouraging families through her writing and speaking engagements. In 2020, Arlene coauthored Screen Kids and Grandparenting Screen Kids with Dr. Gary Chapman to equip adults with the tools they need to manage technology in the home.

Screens disciple. The more time kids spend on screens, the less time they’re going to be spending with us. And what are they going to be learning?

–Arlene

Is it time to press the “reset” button on screen time in your home? Here are some tips from our conversation with Arlene.  

Smartphones and Safety

Turning Point: Many parents give their kids smartphones for safety reasons. But in Screen Kids, you present a startlingly different perspective: “I believe it’s safer for [my son] Ethan to bike home from school without a phone than to have easy access to porn through a phone in his pocket.” How did you arrive at that decision?

Arlene: As someone who writes parenting books, you might assume this was all my idea, but my husband, James, is tougher than I am! In terms of safety, he feels it’s vital for our kids to learn to solve problems on their own. He has noticed the kids who have a phone in their pocket for safety rely on Mom and Dad every time they have a problem—any kind of situation. Whether they forgot their lunch or their homework, somebody says something mean to them, or they’re having trouble with their teacher, they just text Mama, and she provides a solution. James wants our kids to learn how to find their own solutions.

We also recognize the temptation that comes with giving kids smartphones. From video games to pornography, it creates a situation where a ten or fourteen-year-old has to fight the temptation. As my husband would say, “It’s too much weight on the bar,” and most kids can’t handle that. That’s why we have decided it’s our job, as parents, to make our kids as safe as possible by eliminating that source of temptation.

Based on the latest research and interactive assessments, Screen Kids will help you manage technology in your home. Equip your child with a healthy relationship with screens and an even healthier relationship with others.

Screen Kids

Smartphones and Smart Boundaries

Turning Point: You’ve taken a very conservative approach. How do your kids feel about it?

Arlene: My son, Ethan, understands it is a self-control issue. It’s about building healthy habits, and he is financially minded because he keeps his own budget. If he had a phone, he knows he would have to pay for it himself. It’s just not worth it to him. And he has found workarounds. If he needs something, he asks to borrow a friend’s phone or uses a Google Voice number for group chats. Ethan teaches piano and volunteers at church, and he sets everything up himself without having a smartphone.

Turning Point: Your kids seem to be comfortable with the boundaries you’ve set. Has that always been the case?  

Arlene: I have renewed confidence in this! When my kids were young, I figured no one would believe me. Now that they’re older, we’re working on a documentary, written from the kids’ perspective, about what it’s like to have a phone-free childhood. Through this process, my high school freshman remarked that spending time online doesn’t provide a sense of accomplishment but finishing a book does. They’ve pointed out that things like social media don’t offer real friendship. They’d rather spend time with one friend than have a bunch of followers online.

The ideal situation is to teach them all this when they are young. As parents and grandparents, we can explain the dangers and how highly addictive it is. Throughout their childhood, my kids have known they’re not going to play video games or spend time on social media or have personal devices. They have access to laptops, notebook computers, and my phone if they need it.

Meme: The key is to frame the conversation in the context of love

Because my husband and I established the framework early on, this has never been an issue in our home. Our kids know we are for them, not against them, and we will help them pursue their hobbies. Ethan has a YouTube channel for his music. They all use 3-D printing for school. If they want to create something, we help them do that. The key is to frame the conversation in the context of love—to help them understand that we are doing this because it's healthy.

Screens and Online School

Turning Point: For many families, distance learning has created new challenges. How have you adapted your family’s routine?

Arlene: Due to the pandemic, all three of my children have transitioned to full-time distance learning. We’ve found it helpful to maintain a daily rhythm while continuing to minimize other screen time. The kids do their schoolwork from nine to three each day and take a screen-free lunch break at noon. They continue to finish homework until dinnertime, and then they enjoy other activities until bedtime.

There are positives to distance learning. We have learned to embrace the efficiency of it. When they finish their work, they’re done! This has been a great motivation. Of course, my kids are older and more self-sufficient. If they were younger, this would be much harder.

One problem with online learning is too much stimulation. It’s easy to keep multiple windows open, with one for homework, one for communicating with the teacher, and another for messaging a friend. I encourage parents to sit with their children regularly and watch them do their schoolwork. It doesn’t have to be a long time—maybe fifteen or thirty minutes—but this is the best way for parents to help their children develop healthy habits.

It’s also important to schedule other activities whenever possible. Even if it’s socially distanced, wear a mask to church and see friends. Try to create opportunities for your kids to spend time regularly with one or two close friends, maybe in the backyard or the park. For the last several weeks, our family has enjoyed playing ultimate Frisbee. Young people need to move, so look for creative activities while sports are on hold.

Resetting Screen Time

Turning Point: What advice do you have for the parent who needs to reduce their child’s screen time?

Arlene: Dr. Chapman would suggest starting with an apology. Take responsibility for your role in facilitating these habits. Do not shame yourself or your child. Recognize that you have more power and influence than you realize. God’s Word says to “honor your father and mother.” It does not say to honor your tablet and phone. Even if you’re way down the line and you’re just so deep in it, you can know that it’s God’s will for you to parent, and it’s okay if you haven’t done that perfectly.

Your apology might go something like this: “You know what? I have a role as your guardian. I have a responsibility to make you the best adult that you can be, and I’m sorry because I’ve been too busy—it’s been too hard—I didn’t want to upset you—and I’ve let you spend screen time that is not helping you. I’ve noticed that it makes you moody and anxious, and I’m sorry. So, what I want to propose is….”

Before you start the conversation, identify specific goals. Don’t just say, “We’re going to reduce our screen time.” Nobody knows what that means. You might decide to collect all devices at 9 p.m. If a total reset is in order, schedule a 7-day or 30-day detox that culminates with a fun family activity. Look for ways to replace what you are taking away. Play a board game, plan a contest, or go for a nature walk. Be positive. Be confident. Be enthusiastic. Make it as fun as you possibly can. This will be more work for you, but it will help your kids discover new hobbies and develop new habits.

Meme: Before you start the conversation, identify specific goals

Your child will not be happy about the changes, so address that. Let them know, “I’m sure you think I’m mean, and I don’t understand, and I’m trying to ruin your life. I’m sure you think those things, but I want you to know I’m doing this because I love you, I care about you, and I think this is the best for you.” They might scream or not talk to you for a week, but be consistent and remember you are the parent. You are not there to be popular—you are there to protect your child.  

Smartphones and Single Parents

Turning Point: What do you suggest for the single parent who feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day? Or the grandparent who may be raising their grandchild and just doesn’t have the energy to keep up?

Arlene: I think there comes the point when you decide something has to give—when you become convinced that things can’t continue the way they are. It does take a lot of momentum and energy to start something new. But some changes can help the rest fall into place. For instance, an earlier bedtime gives you more time in a quiet house to collect your thoughts, to get ready for the next day. It creates positive changes for your child and you.

I will tell you, my kids are older, but by 8:30, they are winding down. They are reading in their rooms. This practice builds a calming routine that would help the single parent. You can expect resistance at first, but it will improve their behavior because they’re getting more sleep. And the parent will feel more rested too.

Find friends that support your emotional needs so that you’re not relying on your children for support. When you don’t have another adult in the house, the kids sometimes become your primary companions. It creates a situation where you are less likely to cross them because you don’t want to upset them. Having a dear friend, perhaps another single parent or your parent, provides healthier emotional support and a greater sense of community.

Setting an Example With Screens

Turning Point: In Screen Kids, you talk about the importance of parents modeling healthy screen habits. With so many of us parents working from home, how can we teach our kids to find a balance?

Arlene: The apostle Paul says, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1, NIV). We, as parents, are the model for our children for better or for worse. We don’t have to do it perfectly, but there’s this idea of “you can follow me digitally because I follow Christ.” The way our children see us interacting with technology is just as important as it is for them to see us go to church and tithe. The way we use technology reveals a lot about our walk with Christ.

Meme: The way we use technology reveals a lot about our walk with Christ

Our kids need to feel like they’re more important than our phones. A simple way to check is to ask them. We can say, “Do you feel like Mommy’s on the phone too much?” God calls us to “love one another,” not our phones. Phones don’t care if we look at them, but our children care very much. People take priority over technology.

We need to ask ourselves, “If my child grew up to use technology just like me, would I be pleased?” It’s okay if the answer is “No.” The next step is to determine what we can do to change. It’s healthy for our children to see us growing and admitting our mistakes. Look for opportunities to create slices in the day when you can set everything aside and give your kids your full attention.

Seeking Unity for Screen Time

Turning Point: Early in your parenting journey, you and your husband agreed to create a healthy digital environment for the kids. What advice do you have for the parent who wants to make positive changes, but their spouse or other caregivers don’t agree?

Arlene: I would start with prayer. Even if some people in this equation do not follow God, you can be the sanctifying presence in this child’s life. Ask God to intervene and bring unity. Then approach the people you disagree with as graciously as possible. If you’re a grandparent, you need to respect your adult child’s authority as a parent. Instead of presenting a list of twenty things that are going wrong, pick the main thing that you would like to see change.

Look for common ground. Even if you don’t agree on all the details, everyone involved has similar goals. You all want Johnny to be healthy, have a family someday, do well in school, and be active. Then be prepared to compromise. You may win them over on some things. They may win you over on other things, or you may meet in the middle. You might not get to where you want to be, but you can improve. It’s essential to value your relationships over being right.

If you believe there’s a situation that places your child in physical or spiritual danger, you need to act. Don’t worry about offending someone. If you knew your child was at risk of becoming a drug addict, you would take steps. You might move. You might start homeschooling. You would do some radical things to get them away from a particular group of people. Digital addiction has the potential to stay with your child for their entire life, so you might need to take those same radical steps. If everyone is not in agreement but you know it’s the right thing to do, be courageous and take those radical steps.

Turning Point: This topic is so timely. Thank you, Arlene, for bringing biblical wisdom to the subject of screen time and sharing your expertise with our readers.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

To learn about the 5 Skills Every Child Needs in a Tech-Driven World, purchase your copy of Screen Kids or Grandparenting Screen Kids today.


Send your kids on an exciting adventure through God's Word with the Airship Genesis Kids Study Bible by Dr. David Jeremiah! They will discover vital truths from Scripture and real-life applications for today's world.

 

Airship Genesis Kids Study Bible

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Do Children Go to Heaven? What Happens to the Souls of Little Ones When They Die

New Year, New You! 10 Ways to Find Time for Prayer for You and Your Family

Leading Your Family Courageously

Sanctifying the Spin Cycle: A Word of Encouragement for Mothers and Grandmothers

A Parent’s Love Is Forever! How to Express God’s Love to Our Children

Leading Your Child to Christ

Choosing a Bible for Your Child—Which Translation Is Best?

Why Is Friday Good? Helping Kids Understand Good Friday

The Dilemma of the Cross: Helping Children Embrace the Light of Easter

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Creation Care

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 1:28

Marine litter is a huge ecological problem. Many countries’ coastlines are littered with plastic and debris, and there is an “island” of plastic more than the twice the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean where currents have accumulated the debris. Fish become entangled in discarded fishing nets and lines, with bellies full of plastic debris they have swallowed.

Such images are in stark contrast to the pristine beauty and glory of Eden as presented in Genesis. Though mankind was given the mandate to “have dominion over” (that is, to care for) all of creation, we have not done a good job. When God’s mandates go unfulfilled on earth, God’s glory is diminished. And that mandate extends to our personal life as well. Paul writes that we belong to God and we are to glorify Him with our care and use of our body.

When you see opportunities to care for creation—nature or your own body—do so as a way of glorifying the Creator.

The creation is both a monument of God’s power, and a looking-glass in which we may see his wisdom.
Thomas Watson

Steadfast

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58

Paul’s letter to the people at Corinth was an exhortation to remain steadfast. The church in Corinth was an undisciplined church, and he was letting them know that even though the culture around them was in flux, their faith in Jesus Christ needed to remain focused and sure. It is true for us today also. How can we remain steadfast in our faith and avoid the pressures of this ever-changing world? By devoting time each day to the study of God’s Word.

As we read the Bible and immerse ourselves in God’s truth and character, our lives are changed—we become more like Him. God’s Word is a powerful litmus test for our souls and actions. As our lives center on God, giving priority to hearing His voice and reading His Word, we become bolder in sharing our faith.

Joshua had the confidence and courage to lead God’s people into the Promised Land because He believed in God’s promise and presence. We serve the same God who said: “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

You can place your steadfast trust in Him.

When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful.
Dwight L. Moody

Ready and Willing

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9

A leper approached Jesus and said, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus touched the man, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed”—and he was healed (Mark 1:40-42).

That event is a beautiful example of the willingness of God. In fact, there are no instances of Jesus being asked to help or heal and Him answering, “I am not willing.” There is a place where the Bible says God is “not willing,” and that is 2 Peter 3:9. In writing about the timing of the Day of the Lord (the end of the age), Peter says God is waiting for all who will be saved to come to Him. He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Said another way, God is willing for any who want to be saved to come to Him (John 6:37; 7:37). The question is never whether God is willing but whether man is willing.

Have you responded to God’s willing invitation to come to Him?

God is far more willing to save sinners than sinners are to be saved.
J. C. Ryle

Treasure!

I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure.
Psalm 119:162

Earlier this year, a volunteer for a charity in Arizona was going through books donated for a sale. One was an old copy of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. The volunteer decided the dilapidated volume wasn’t worth saving and was about to throw it away when she thumbed through it and found a hidden chamber. Someone had used a knife to cut a hole in the middle of the book. Inside was $4,000!

That’s nothing compared to the treasure you’ll find when opening the covers of the Bible. Perhaps it would help to think of it in those terms. Use your imagination to see every word of Scripture turning to gold as you read it. Think of every promise as a precious stone. See the words about Jesus in the Gospels as sparkling like diamonds. Visualize your daily Bible study time like a miser running his hands through a chest of gold.

The treasury of Scripture will enrich your mind, refocus your goals, replace your doubts, and redirect your path—but only if you read it and heed it. Start today!

To get the best use out of [the Bible] for daily life,...Give it the best and freshest, not the most tired and dull, hour of the day.
M. S. Kimber in The Sunday School World, 1893

Hello Heaven!

I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside.
2 Peter 1:13-14, NIV

Peter wrote his final letter shortly before his execution. He wasn’t discouraged; he was looking forward to the future. He spoke of “looking forward to these things.” and “[looking] for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13-14).

Life is full of hardships and heaviness. We have the promises of God to help us in difficult days, and we have the Holy Spirit within us. We have a purpose for being here—to refresh the memory of others regarding the things of the Lord. But we’ll soon put aside the tent of our earthly body, and what a relief! Goodbye hardship and heaviness. Goodbye trials and troubles. Hello Jesus! Hello heaven! Hello golden streets, glorified bodies, endless days, and the fresh air of New Jerusalem!

During difficult times, the hope of eternity gives us strength. If you’re prone to worry yourself to sleep each night, turn your thoughts upward and close your eyes thinking of heaven and its eternal throne.

A tent or a cottage, why should I care? They’re building a palace for me over there.
Harriet Buell, in her hymn “A Child of the King”

Overcoming Temptation

Temptation. Whether we realize it or not, it is part of our past, and it will be part of our future. The moment we resolve to stand strong and walk away is when temptation grows most intense. That is why Scripture is of paramount importance. God's Word contains the answer to resisting temptation before it's too late. Consider these verses:

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full–grown, brings forth death (James 1:13–15).

Some people wonder about the value of the Old Testament in a Christian's life. The apostle Paul addressed that question in 1 Corinthians 10:11—"Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition." To what things was Paul referring? He listed them in verses 7–10. They are idolatry, immorality, infidelity, and disloyalty.

Temptation is not sin; yielding to temptation is.

With that background, Paul exhorted believers not to make the same choices the Israelites made—not to provoke God's discipline by willfully sinning. None of us is above God's discipline if we engage in sin. We must look for and take "the way of escape" God provides in every situation where temptation is found (verse 13). To think our temptation is unique is to believe a lie. "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man" (verse 13). There are no "new" temptations in life.

The apostle James argued that if temptation becomes serious, it is because we have allowed it to do so. Our own "desires" entice us away from God and desire "gives birth to sin" (James 1:13–15). God doesn't tempt us, but He may allow temptation to enter our lives in order to give us opportunities to make obedient and mature choices.

Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, and He took the same means of escape that is available to us—obedience to God's Word (Matthew 4:1–11; Hebrews 5:8). Temptation is not sin; yielding to temptation is. There is always a righteous choice to be made if we are willing to seek it.

Victory in Him

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57

To first-century leaders in the Roman world, the imagery was familiar: A victorious Roman general returning from battle leading his soldiers and their captives into the city. Citizens lined the streets applauding while the aroma of celebratory incense filled the air. Paul uses that image to say that Christ leads His followers in a victory procession through every difficulty in life (2 Corinthians 2:14-15).

The Christian’s victory is through Christ. The victory over the world, the flesh, the devil, and sin was won by the Cross and the empty tomb. He did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We have victory now and for eternity only because of the victory Christ won for us. Therefore, if we are to experience victory in this life, it will come only as we depend on Him. As Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, the life we now live is the life of Christ in us as we keep our faith in Him.

If you need a victory in your life, begin every day by renewing your faith in Christ in whom all our victories are to be realized.

The spiritual battle, the loss of victory, is always in the thought-world.
Francis Schaeffer

Faithful Fathers: Abraham

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
James 2:23

We can imagine a child writing an appreciative and sentimental memoir about her “perfect father,” understanding that “perfect” was not intended to be taken literally. But how about a book titled The Righteous Father? The patriarch Isaac could have written that book about his father, Abraham.

Righteous doesn’t mean sinless, of course. We know that Abraham wasn’t perfect. But he did manifest some qualities that every father should emulate. First, he believed the promises of God about the future God had planned for him (Hebrews 11:8-12). And when he believed God, “[God] accounted it to [Abraham] for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Again, not perfect or sinless, but in a right standing with God. Second, as a result of Abraham’s trust in God, he became a “friend of God” (Isaiah 41:8). Could any father set a more worthy example to his children or grandchildren than that of being friends with God? Living in right standing with God? That means communing with Him, walking with Him, living for Him, and above all, trusting Him and His promises.

Follow Abraham’s example as a faithful father by deepening your friendship with God.

Friendship is the marriage of affections.
Thomas Watson

Modern Idolatry

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Colossians 3:5

Colossians 3:1 tells us to “seek those things which are above, where Christ is.” In verse 5 we’re told to put to death the passions that come from below—"fornication, uncleanness, passion, and evil desire.” Then the Lord added the sin of greed or covetousness to the list, calling it idolatry.

That verse changes our view of idolatry. It’s not just bowing down to a small carved statue or a pagan worshiper offering incense at a shrine to Buddha. It’s the act of becoming too attached to the material things of the world—falling more in love with the things on earth than on things in heaven.

This has nothing to do with how much money you do or don’t have—a poverty-stricken person can covet just as much as a billionaire. It has everything to do with what’s at the center of our affections. Is it Christ? Is it things above? Or is it things below?

Make sure Christ is at the center of your life and that your love for Him eclipses everything else!

You don’t have to go to heathen lands today to find false gods. America is full of them…. Whatever you love more than God is your idol.
D. L. Moody

New Beginnings: Ezekiel

In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
Ezekiel 1:1, NIV

We often need fresh starts after enduring bitter disappointments. As a young man, Ezekiel had dedicated himself to be a priest. He was from a priestly family, and he undoubtedly looked forward to serving God in Jerusalem’s temple. Priests began their temple duty at the age of thirty. But when he was about twenty-five, Ezekiel was seized and taken to Babylon, and he never saw the temple again. When his thirtieth birthday came, he must have struggled with questions of “why” and “if only.”

That’s just when God appeared to him as he was among the exiles by the Kebar River. Ezekiel looked up and saw remarkable visions of God—the throne of God surrounded by angelic beings. Amid the strange and apocalyptic vision described in Ezekiel 1, God called the thirty-year-old exile to be a powerful prophet.

Oh, to see the glory of the Lord while in the midst of the disappointments in life. When we think life has collapsed around us, the God of glory appears above us. God always has a plan, and our false starts become His fresh starts.

Ezekiel is the prophet of the glory of the Lord…. Ezekiel looked beyond the sufferings of Christ to the glory that should follow.
J. Vernon McGee

The Conspicuous Hand

The Lord your God cares.
Deuteronomy 11:12

In a letter to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, George Washington marveled at how God’s hand had protected him and given success to the cause of liberty: “The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and… has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.”

In the middle of life’s battles, we’re tempted to question God’s ordering of our circumstances, but every follower of Christ can look back and see the conspicuous hand of God’s Providence. He is committed to caring for us, watching over us, and giving us strength when we are within His will.

Moses reminded the Israelites that God was taking them into a land of hills and valleys, of water and streams, “a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year” (Deuteronomy 11:11-12).

That’s the way He cares for us too—every day, all year long, always.

[The Lord] loves, and cares, and sympathizes, and understands, and seeks, and saves, and forgives, and helps, and encourages, and walks by our side… taking care of us in life when we can’t take care of ourselves.
W. A. Criswell

God of Second Chances

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.”
Jonah 3:1-2

It was not uncommon in the Old Testament for “the word of the Lord” to come to God’s prophets again and again. It happened to Samuel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Haggai, Zechariah, and others. And it also happened to Jonah: The word of the Lord came to Jonah the first time (Jonah 1:1) and then the second time (Jonah 3:1). With the other prophets, the “second time” meant additional prophetic utterances they were to deliver. But with Jonah, the “second time” was because Jonah had failed to speak God’s word the first time. Jonah was a disobedient prophet.

God commissioned Jonah to go east to Assyria, to the capital of Nineveh and deliver a message of judgment. But Jonah fled west toward Spain because he feared the Assyrians. You know the story—Jonah ended up in the sea where he was swallowed by a great fish. Jonah repented and called on the Lord and was delivered. God gave him a second chance.

Don’t let your past keep you from trusting God for a second (or third, or fourth) chance. The God of grace loves to forgive.

Forgiveness is to be set loose from sins.
G. Campbell Morgan

All You Need Is Love: Forgiveness

When Jesus saw [the friends’] faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
Mark 2:5

The hardest part of forgiving another person is acting like the offense never occurred. But that is what forgiving someone means—restoring relationships to the status they enjoyed before the offense took place. It’s one thing to say, “I forgive you,” but it’s another to act like all the effects of an offense are completely erased. After all, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, love is known by its actions more than its words.

Jesus faced this dilemma when He healed a paralytic man. When He told the man that his sins were forgiven (and by extension, he was healed), He was criticized. He was accused of blaspheming by saying He had the authority to forgive sins—something only God can do. So, Jesus proved He had the authority to say, “I forgive you,” by doing something harder. He healed the man’s paralysis. After all, as Jesus explained, actions speak louder than words (Mark 2:8-11).

We cannot go through life without being hurt by others, so we should learn to forgive. Even more, we should practice demonstrating our forgiveness by our acts of lovingkindness. Look for opportunities to do both.

Forgiveness is to be set loose from sins.
G. Campbell Morgan

A Whole Person

In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility.
Titus 2:7

In mathematics two of the basic kinds of numbers are integers and fractions: 2, 100, and 56 are integers, while ½, ¼, and 2.5 are fractions. Integers, from a Latin root meaning “whole” or “entire.” The word integrity comes from the same root; a person with integrity cannot be divided in beliefs or morality based on varying circumstances.

When the apostle Paul wrote to his young pastoral protégé, Timothy, he told him to show “integrity” in doctrine, to be incorruptible in belief and in actions. Paul wanted Timothy to hold fast to the truth of God, not allowing himself to be divided. A person of integrity obeys the whole counsel of God every day, in every circumstance. Daniel’s three friends in Babylon demonstrated integrity when they were threatened with being burned alive (Daniel 3:16-18). They told the king they would not divide their allegiance, that they would maintain their faith in God and His promises. That is integrity.

Are you a whole person or a fractioned person today? If your beliefs, and therefore your actions, have become divided, gather them back together as you commit to God and His Word.

Integrity of heart is indispensable.
John Calvin

New Earth

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.
Revelation 21:1

A great misconception carried by many Christians has to do with the location of heaven. The word heaven itself implies that our eternal destiny is somewhere “up there” in the heavens. But the Bible says our eternal destiny is earthly, not heavenly. As Peter wrote, we look for a “new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).

In his vision of the future, the apostle John saw that “new heaven and a new earth,” our new domain being pictured as the New Jerusalem “coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:1-2). Somehow, at the end of the age, when Christ has returned to reign and inaugurate the eternal state, this earth will be renovated and a new earth will be the result—a new earth full of righteousness in which pain and sorrow will be absent. The beautiful imagery of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 lets us know that the new earth will be a place that reflects the glory of God throughout.

Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for you if you belong to Him (John 14:1-4). The New Jerusalem, on the new earth, is that place.

Let thy hope of heaven master thy fear of death.
William Gurnall

The Conspicuous Hand

The Lord your God cares.
Deuteronomy 11:12

In a letter to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, George Washington marveled at how God’s hand had protected him and given success to the cause of liberty: “The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and… has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.”

In the middle of life’s battles, we’re tempted to question God’s ordering of our circumstances, but every follower of Christ can look back and see the conspicuous hand of God’s Providence. He is committed to caring for us, watching over us, and giving us strength when we are within His will.

Moses reminded the Israelites that God was taking them into a land of hills and valleys, of water and streams, “a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year” (Deuteronomy 11:11-12).

That’s the way He cares for us too—every day, all year long, always.

[The Lord] loves, and cares, and sympathizes, and understands, and seeks, and saves, and forgives, and helps, and encourages, and walks by our side… taking care of us in life when we can’t take care of ourselves.
W. A. Criswell

The Need for Prayer

Now it came to pass in those days that [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Luke 6:12

Officially, church historians recognize seven ecumenical church councils held between A.D. 325 and A.D. 787. The first, the First Council of Nicaea, met to agree on the nature of Jesus of Nazareth as both Son of God and Son of Man, as both fully divine and fully human.

The humanity of Christ, while at the same time divine, is hard to understand. But thankfully, Scripture gives us illustrations: Like us, Jesus suffered, experienced hunger, required sleep, ate food, and had limits on His knowledge (Mark 13:32). One of the most striking and helpful illustrations of Jesus’ humanity was His prayer life. We might think that, if Jesus was truly divine, He would have had no need to pray for knowledge, guidance, or help. Yet He did, following the example of godly men like Daniel in Babylon (Daniel 2:16-18). Jesus repeatedly said that He only did what the Father showed Him to do (John 5:19), and prayer was His means.

If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to go to His Father in prayer for strengthening and guidance, how much more do we (Psalm 32:6)?

Prayer and a holy life are one.
E. M. Bounds

What Is Humility?

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5, NIV

What is humility? Is it the opposite of pride? If pride expands one’s importance, does humility deflate one’s importance? That’s the view given by most English dictionaries—a deemphasis on one’s own importance. But what is the biblical view of humility

If someone compliments you on a job well done, do you refuse to take credit or receive their compliment? Or do you graciously say, “Thank you,” in a spirit of genuine appreciation and humility? In Romans 12:3 Paul exhorts the believers not to think of themselves pridefully but rather to think of themselves “soberly”—that is, realistically or accurately. Paul’s topic is the grace given by God to each Christian to serve in the Body of Christ. We should neither overestimate the gift of God’s grace or underestimate it. Rather, we should think of it soberly and realistically—humbly—and minister accordingly. To think less of God’s gift would be to devalue it; to think realistically about it allows one to serve humbly.

How do you view yourself? With pride? With false humility? Or soberly and realistically according to the grace of God in your life?

A really humble man…will not be thinking about humility, he will not be thinking about himself at all.
C. S. Lewis

The Power of Confession

For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer.
Psalm 32:4

California is a dry state that needs water to be transported over many miles to population and agricultural centers. Snowfall in the winter and melting snow in the spring are critical factors in replenishing shrinking reservoirs. In periods of modern droughts, aerial photographs document the receding water levels in reservoirs around the state—shorelines growing wider and drier as water levels fall.

Such is the picture David paints with his words in Psalm 32—a drought of spiritual vitality brought on by his own sin. When he failed to confess his sin to God, his “bones grew old” and he groaned “all the day long” (verse 3). It was like his soul was being evaporated by the heat of his own guilt and shame. But then the rains of grace came and David confessed his sin and God forgave him (verse 5). And he encouraged his readers not to make the same mistake he had made (verses 9-10).

Confession and repentance reveal the access to restoration. Hiding sin does not remove it from God’s sight; but when we seek God’s forgiveness, the refreshing living water from the Father is poured out on us and we are restored—that is the power of confession.

The way to cover our sin is to uncover it by confession.
Richard Sibbes