I have spent my entire life attached to things. When I was a child, I was attached to my books. I always had a book and was always getting told pay attention to the world around me, look out the window in the car, be present. But I was in my book.
These days, it is my phone. I am always on my phone -- sometimes reading a book, sometimes disappearing into my social media. Social media, and our smartphones, can be can be super destroying to relationship and our generation; however, I truly believe that they can be used as such a great tool as well.
This month I am really making an effort to make small footprints into my prayer time, reading time, studying time, time connecting with God. If I can hear the Lord better and understand more of what direction He wants me in, more of what He wants to me say and do, I am sure that I can reflect that better to make more footprints, deeper impressions in others lives.
My dilemma was down to this: What can I do to incorporate this in every moment of my life? How can I ensure it is not just 30 minutes in the morning or 10 sleepy minutes at night? Or the...I forgot, got busy, too tired, do it tomorrow situation that makes me feel bad?
My smartphone.
So with months of research and practice, I have compiled a list of how my smartphone and Savior connect daily, hourly, every moment for me.
1. SheReadsTruth app (free w/ in-app purchases)
I am completely hooked to SheReadsTruth. Their devotionals are so powerful, and this year they introduced a "read through the Bible in a year" program that I love! The app itself is free; however, the majority of their devotionals are a couple of bucks. But you can also view their devotionals on their website daily for free.
2. Prayer NB Lite app (free w/ in-app purchases)
I love my prayer notebook! It is something that I have always tried to do outside of my phone, in an actual journal, but I have always failed miserably. Prayer NB allows you type up your own prayers and store them underneath categories. You can come up with very personal prayers or sometimes, I look on the Internet and copy and paste more specific prayers related to scripture. You can set up reminders to take a moment and pray for your husband or children at a certain time each day and check them off when they are answered! For months, I have been praying the same prayer for our new home every morning, the family that lives there, the carpenters that built those walls. Each Sunday right before church, a short prayer for those friends that I have that are pastors and for their family. The opportunities are endless.
The Bible+ app is a super app! It is more than just the Bible and provides “outstanding commentaries, maps and dictionaries for an in-depth study experience”. Easy to take notes, bookmark, and highlight!
The Evernote app has been designed for the business world. It's a note taking application that is the place "to collect inspritational ideas, write words, and move your important documents from one place to another". But I use it for everything. For blogging on the go, to remember things I do not want to forget -- like quotes and groceries, to utilizing it as a Bible tool. I'm a huge note taker when it comes to learning, but writing in church during a sermon or even taking notes on a podcast about intentional living or scripture is difficult. I forget my pen, my handwriting is too sloppy, I just get distracted because I do not write fast. Enter Evernote. I can type some quick notes as I hear them on my phone or computer! I keep a running log of scriptures for certain things in one "note" while I can open up another "note" to write deeper on a quote or message I heard at church a few days earlier. It is the perfect tool.
5. Spotify app (free w/ in-app purchases)
I am also a big music person. I connect more and write more and reflect more when there are tunes in the background. Spotify is my go-to for music these days. Yes, I pay the $9.99 a month for no ads and other features, but it can definitely be utilized for free. Over Advent season I had my own playlists and borrow many from other major churhces, blogs, and even SheReadsTruth. Worshipping can be done in so many ways, but singing is definitely what makes me feel connected and in tune. Spotify is by far my choice for music listening.
Smartphones can be a wonderful tool to connect with our Savior. Some of these things I have to purposefully schedule into my day; some remind me
What devotional apps do you enjoy?
