LOTRgeek

I think that any honest person will say that most internet activities are addictive...at least for most people. Anything addictive is keeping us from God. I know how the whole internet addiction thing goes. You start out slow...then you make some friends...you become really good friends...you want to be a part of every conversation that they have...you can access it from anywhere with a computer...you start thinking about it WAY too much...etc., etc.....

So yes, communicating with others can be a very good thing to give up. It gives us more time to focus on communicating with Christ.

BCheezy

Well what are you and I doing right now?

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Boanerges

Edifying one another in Christ is a great pursuit no matter what the venue.

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andiclare

The point is, we can ask ourselves: do we use the internet frivolously, as a distraction? Does it clutter our minds and take time from our prayer life...? Does it even lead us into sin?

If so, then it's a good thing to give up for Lent. Doesn't in any way mean using the internet is inherently bad, or that it can't be a good thing.

It's all about being honest with ourselves.

CSchultz

The season of Lent can also be more than we ourselves give up. but the cross we offer to bear.

For example, an extra 30 minutes of reading God's Word each day, or 10 minutes of daily prayer.

Don't worry if you have not started yet, I don't believe that God is holding a stop watch right now...

But try offering 10 minutes of pure, quiet, one-on-one prayer each day for the remainder of the Lenten season.

What's 10 minutes a day? Right?

Go to a quiet place, lock the door, or whatever you have to do, ask your family to respect your 10 minutes of privacy. And pray to God for 10 minutes each day.

If you havent done this before, I caution you, it will be hard.

No cheating is allowed, you cannot think about other stuff, or plan your day (Let God plan your day) don't waste your time fantacizing, or daydreaming, just spend 10 minutes with the Lord your God.

Just 10 minutes. You can even start late.

It WILL! change your life.

May God richly bless each of you during this season of anticipation.

andiclare

CSchultz- Thank you for that.
Good post, and good advice...

ExCordeChristi

Definitely!
Well, in past Lents, I've tried to be ambitious and give up or take on HUGE promises, and then I'd wonder why I'd break those promises. This Lent, I'm just taking up reading 5 Psalms a day and I've limited my leisure internet time. It is better to keep a small promise and do small discipline well rather than to promise the world and not be able to keep that promise, no?

andiclare

I can't say enough good things about praying the Psalms!! I think this is an very good goal you've set for yourself.

May God Bless all of us during this Holy Week!

ExCordeChristi

Thank you! I wish I had taken notes, though, so I could remember important verses... I read the Bible and then I only remember the content, and not where to find the content!

Who am I

I never did observe lent in the past, and don’t today.

I like the way it is put in Matthew 6:2, 5, 17

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms,

5 And when thou prayest,

17 But thou, when thou fastest,

There are a lot of people who believe that you should do good deeds, and you should pray, but don’t believe you should fast. Jesus clearly says “when” not “if”.

I will do good deeds as often as God tells me.
I will pray as often as God tells me.
And I will fast as often as God tells me.

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Blessings to all

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD,
thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.