With the popularity of smartphones and the upgrading of their functions, smartphones have become "a part of the human body", especially in big cities. In subways, in restaurants, on the street, and wherever you can see people, most of them are looking at their mobile phones in their leisure time. Besides making calls, smartphones also have a variety of functions such as watching videos, playing games, and reading novels. Gradually, people entertain themselves more and more with their smartphones and end up getting addicted.
With regards to smartphone addiction, there is very little difference between most Christians and non-Christians. For example, S (a believer), who was once addicted to smartphones, had a habit of going to bed very late and struggled to get a good night’s sleep. Later on, he had health problems. It’s God’s grace that led him to attend the morning devotion held by the church pastor, and then he was able to have a healthy daily routine and quit the smartphone addiction.
S said, "A few years ago, I put my whole heart into work and was far away from God. At that time, I usually went to bed after midnight and depended heavily on my smartphone — reading the news, reading novels, watching short videos, etc. Later, I had problems falling asleep. I could not get up in the morning and had no energy for work. I had an MRI, and the result was that my lumbar spine had moderate spinal stenosis. The doctor said that there was pressure on my nerves as a result, and without the treatment, I would be paralyzed. At that time, I could not stand, walk, or sit steadily. My heart was full of fear. I knew that I had treated my body badly, and God had disciplined me. When I was praying for my health, God gave me the assurance that he would heal me, but that I should return to him. "
He continued, "At the same time, the pastor strongly invited me to attend the morning devotion. I was very resistant at first because it was too difficult for me to get up early. The pastor invited me many times and kept encouraging me, then I decided to give it a try. My wife said that if I wanted to get up early I had to go to bed early, and we started to pray for an early bedtime. Thank the Lord, my heart was moved by the Holy Spirit in the morning devotion, and I decide to live life to worship God in my morning devotion. Before I start the morning devotion, I also read the Bible by myself. But due to my laziness and weak willpower, Bible reading stopped from time to time. By attending the morning devotion, I can read the bible and pray stably, constantly gaining new understandings of scriptures I did not have before. I learned a lot from the pastor’s teaching and other believers’ feedback.”
"Afterwards, gatherings were held at my house, and I began to serve. During my time of serving, my lumbar spine was healed by God amazingly. When I returned to a healthy routine, I was filled with grace from God’s words, and I served others, I recognized God’s presence, and his healing grace came upon me. I repented that I used to focus on work and forgot God's in my heart. Now I live a life centered on God’s words, and my body and mind have been released and satisfied. Also, by God’s grace, I got two big orders in my work.”
"Later, the pastor invited me to be the group leader, and I was very grateful. As a group leader, I participated more specifically in the preparation of the Sunday services. During the process of leading a group, my faith grows. I want to know the word of God more than ever, and I am more eager to know the needs and situations of my team members. It has been more than a year this way and now when I go back home, I put my phone aside, talk with my wife, prepare for the service, and pray together with my wife. I am also more involved in housework than before, sharing the burden of my wife.”
- Translated by Katherine Guo
随着智能手机的普及和功能的升级，尤其是在大城市里，我们会发现一个事实，那就是手机已经成为了“人身体的一部分。”在地铁，餐馆，大街上，凡是能看到人的地方，大部分的人在休闲的时间都在与手机保持着对视的关系。手机除了拨打电话，还有看视频，打游戏和阅读小说等丰富的功能。人们使用久了，人眼目的情欲和大脑释放多巴胺此消彼长，这种让人身体和思想感到放松和愉悦的消遣方式，久而久之让人就上了瘾。
其实，大部分的基督徒在玩手机上瘾的问题和未信的人一样严重，比如这位基督徒S弟兄，他曾一度沉迷玩手机，导致晚上很晚睡觉，睡眠质量下降，身体健康出现问题。最后，是上帝的恩典带领他参加教会牧师带领的早灵修，他的生物钟和手机使用上瘾的问题才得以恢复和克服。
S弟兄分享说到：“前几年，我曾因为工作忙碌的原因，心中远离神。每天满脑子想着业务和生意。我原来是12点前很少睡觉的，玩手机很上瘾，看新闻，看小说，看短视频，后来发现入睡很困难，早上起不来，工作没有精神。再后来，我做核磁共振，我的腰椎有中度的椎管狭窄，医生说不治疗会瘫痪，已经压迫到神经了。我当时站不了，走不了路了，坐也坐不稳，自己心里充满了惧怕，也知道是我自己恶待了身体，也有神的管教。后来，我在祷告中，神给我确据，他会医治我的病，但是我要回转归向他。”
“这个时候教会的牧者强烈邀请我参加早上的灵修学习，一开始我很抗拒，因为早起太难了。但在牧者的多次邀请和鼓励下，我决定试一次 ，我的妻子告诉我，想早起，必须要早睡，于是我们开始为早睡祷告。感谢主的是，我参加了早灵修后，我的心受到了圣灵的感动，决定要过这样的敬拜神的早灵修生活。之前，我一个人读经，常常因为懒惰和意志力的薄，陷入停顿状态中。通过参加早灵修，我的读经和祷告有了稳定的进展，以前不明白的经文，也在不断的有了新的认识。不仅有牧者的分享，也有弟兄姐妹的分享和反馈，让我有很多收获。”
“再后来，我的家成为接待之家，我开始参与事奉，在参与事奉的过程中，我的腰椎的病得到上帝的惊人的医治。我突然明白，当我恢复正常的作息，心中充满上帝话语的恩典，真实参与到事奉当中，原来上帝是真的与我们同在，他的医治的恩膏临到我的身上。我悔改了自己内心深处曾经以工作为大，忘记上帝的样子，现在以上帝的话语为中心生活，身心灵都得到了释放和满足。后来在工作中，也是靠着上帝的恩典，我签了两笔很大的单子。”
“后来教会的牧师邀请我做小组长，我也非常感恩，这个过程，我开始更加具体的参与到教会的主日礼拜的筹备当中，也在带领小组的过程中，我的信仰有了更多内面的成长，也有了成就感。我比以往更加想要认识上帝的话语 ，更加渴望了解小组组员的需要和情况。现在有一年多的时间了，我是常常回到家就把手机放在一边，更多的时间是和妻子交通，为聚会作预备和妻子一起祷告。我也比以往更多的参与做家务，分担妻子的重担。”
一位基督徒弟兄得胜手机诱惑的见证
With the popularity of smartphones and the upgrading of their functions, smartphones have become "a part of the human body", especially in big cities. In subways, in restaurants, on the street, and wherever you can see people, most of them are looking at their mobile phones in their leisure time. Besides making calls, smartphones also have a variety of functions such as watching videos, playing games, and reading novels. Gradually, people entertain themselves more and more with their smartphones and end up getting addicted.
With regards to smartphone addiction, there is very little difference between most Christians and non-Christians. For example, S (a believer), who was once addicted to smartphones, had a habit of going to bed very late and struggled to get a good night’s sleep. Later on, he had health problems. It’s God’s grace that led him to attend the morning devotion held by the church pastor, and then he was able to have a healthy daily routine and quit the smartphone addiction.
S said, "A few years ago, I put my whole heart into work and was far away from God. At that time, I usually went to bed after midnight and depended heavily on my smartphone — reading the news, reading novels, watching short videos, etc. Later, I had problems falling asleep. I could not get up in the morning and had no energy for work. I had an MRI, and the result was that my lumbar spine had moderate spinal stenosis. The doctor said that there was pressure on my nerves as a result, and without the treatment, I would be paralyzed. At that time, I could not stand, walk, or sit steadily. My heart was full of fear. I knew that I had treated my body badly, and God had disciplined me. When I was praying for my health, God gave me the assurance that he would heal me, but that I should return to him. "
He continued, "At the same time, the pastor strongly invited me to attend the morning devotion. I was very resistant at first because it was too difficult for me to get up early. The pastor invited me many times and kept encouraging me, then I decided to give it a try. My wife said that if I wanted to get up early I had to go to bed early, and we started to pray for an early bedtime. Thank the Lord, my heart was moved by the Holy Spirit in the morning devotion, and I decide to live life to worship God in my morning devotion. Before I start the morning devotion, I also read the Bible by myself. But due to my laziness and weak willpower, Bible reading stopped from time to time. By attending the morning devotion, I can read the bible and pray stably, constantly gaining new understandings of scriptures I did not have before. I learned a lot from the pastor’s teaching and other believers’ feedback.”
"Afterwards, gatherings were held at my house, and I began to serve. During my time of serving, my lumbar spine was healed by God amazingly. When I returned to a healthy routine, I was filled with grace from God’s words, and I served others, I recognized God’s presence, and his healing grace came upon me. I repented that I used to focus on work and forgot God's in my heart. Now I live a life centered on God’s words, and my body and mind have been released and satisfied. Also, by God’s grace, I got two big orders in my work.”
"Later, the pastor invited me to be the group leader, and I was very grateful. As a group leader, I participated more specifically in the preparation of the Sunday services. During the process of leading a group, my faith grows. I want to know the word of God more than ever, and I am more eager to know the needs and situations of my team members. It has been more than a year this way and now when I go back home, I put my phone aside, talk with my wife, prepare for the service, and pray together with my wife. I am also more involved in housework than before, sharing the burden of my wife.”
- Translated by Katherine Guo
Testimony: Quitting the Smartphone Addiction
