How to Not Fail at a Social Media Fast

Have you felt that nudge to fast and pray over something big in your life? Me too, but I also have health issues that make fasting from food unwise.  So I chose a social media fast in the Winter – and failed miserably.  This past month I planned to Fast from Facebook alone- and I made a plan so I would not Fail again.

How do you fail at a Social Media Fast? 

I’m talking about failing hard- landing flat on my bottom!  I had no idea about the amount of time I was spending on Facebook.  It’s easy to get lulled into a false sense of security with Social Media.   Do you know what I mean?

1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.

Why is it so easy to justify zoning out on Social Media?  Because most of the time I am scrolling while doing other things and have no idea how much time I have spent online.

With no real idea how much time or how often I was scrolling Social Media, I was blind to the addiction hiding within.  I thought I was the one in control of my Social Media time, but when I decided to give up Social Media for 1 week in February I saw another story.

The Real Addiction to Social Media is hard to see until you unplug

I constantly felt like I was missing out on opportunities.  The temptation to open the apps and check notifications struck every hour.  I repeatedly deleted Facebook and Instagram from my phone just so I couldn’t see that I was missing things.

The Fast lasted 2 days and in shame, I re-installed and checked notifications chalking it up to a good old College Try.

I picked some other things to fast from and continued my time with God.

For months I explored new things to fast from and poured my heart out to God about our season of increasing hardship.  God and I wrestled together over my sickness, my husbands’ injury and lack of work, the increasing rebellion of my children and my struggle to submit to His will for our life.

It’s all in this Series Fasting That Pleases God:

• How To Fast in A Way that Pleases God.
• Some of the What Not to do’s while Fasting.
• What we can expect before during and after the fast is over.
• The Scary Truth About my First Fast

And still, it nagged at my mind that I had failed so miserably to give up Social Media.  The question that kept ringing in my mind:

Had Social Media Become An Idol in My Life?

As a Stay At Home mom, I depend on the adult interaction of the online world.  Can you relate?  Trying to have conversations with my children is futile.  They don’t have the attention span or point of reference to enjoy more than a few sentences.  Most of my daily conversations are a series of repeated phrases.

Did you wash your hands?  Was Soap involved?  Please use your kind words.  How else could you have handled that situation?  How much water have you had today?  Food is fuel – choose wisely.

Sometimes I wonder if I am loosing my conversational skills…  a topic for another day.

Proverbs 18:1 He who separates himself seeks his own desire,  He quarrels against all sound wisdom.

I felt compelled to repeat the time of fasting from Social Media,  but how could I do it successfully and not Fail again?

Related: 10 Powerful Books On Fasting

Important Questions to ask before a Social Media Fast

When working through something challenging it is critical to ask yourself some key questions. Knowing the answer to those questions will guide you can to a plan and Success!

Why do you want to Fast from Social Media?

I saw a hint of an addiction (some would say idolatry) with Social Media – specifically Facebook – that I needed to work through with God.

1 John 5:21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

The sheer amount of time I was spending on Facebook made me think there were areas of my life being neglected.  I wanted to see how much time or how much better I could focus on the tasks in my life without that distraction.

I still needed to seek hard after God about some things and this seemed like a big sacrifice to really be an effective Fast.

Psalm 51:16-17 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;  You are not pleased with burnt offering.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;  A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Related: 7 Different Types of Biblical Fasting

How did you fail the first time?

1. Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) is alive and well in my life.

   • I use Social Media to help market HopeJoyInChrist and make an income for our family.  There was this nagging anxiety that I was missing an opportunity and without realizing it I would pick up my phone to check my Facebook Groups.

2. Fear of Missing People was also a real part of that failure.

   • I love connecting with you – the HopeJoyInChrist Community – in the Facebook Group and in PM through my Facebook Page.  I didn’t want to miss a message or an opportunity to pray with you.

What was at the heart of the failure?

• Fear
• Pride
• Insecurity
• Approval

None of those are good things yet I saw them all in myself.  Social Media has become something apart from amusement and opportunity for me.  Social Media – Facebook specifically – has become an Idol in my life.  How on earth did that happen?  

What could I do to change this pattern in my life?

I needed to take a significant break from Facebook.

Maybe it’s not Facebook for you, it could be Instagram or SnapChat or Twitter or… insert your generations preferred Social Media.  Facebook is the one I kept wanting to check – so it was easy to see my addiction to that Social Media Platform.

To Take time away from it I realized I needed a Plan or I’d fail again.

Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge,  And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

What is the big thing you are praying for in this season?  I believe in the power of prayer – but effective strategic prayer- Praying Scripture to claim God’s promises.  I’d love to share a list of over 75 Verses to pray for Financial Blessing, Unity, Support and so much more.  

How to Not Fail at a Fast from Facebook

1. Decide how long the Fast will last

   • I didn’t think a week would do it.  What was needed in my life was a complete break from the cycle of Facebook.  The start of a new healthier Habit if you will.  30 days is a good start

2. Recognize what triggers the temptation to break your fast.

   • I found the settings on my phone and turned off notifications for everything.  For the Month I would let my phone be a phone – crazy thought right?!?!?!

3. What will you replace the time on Social Media with?

   • At first, I planned to pray every time I was tempted to check Facebook
     • I did and it was an amazing time to come to terms with the crazy hard Will of God in my life in this season.
   • But it was a much bigger time gap than I ever imagined… so I also decided to be interruptable in those times I wanted to be online:
     • I had more Face to Face conversations with my husband (more about that in another piece)
     • The kids and I played more games
     • I was able to plan lunch dates with friends
     • The family even planned and went on our first vacation in 5 years (Look for more about that really soon)!
     • I found time to meal plan and prep for the next few months (getting ready for health-related things)
       • None of which was happening before because I didn’t think I had time… 

4. Admit that FOMO is real.

   • This is specifically about my online business and blogging.
   • I had to pray over my business and give this month to God.
     • Submitting my business to Him.  It is really His anyhow
     • Asking Him to honor this fast and not allow it to negatively impact all the hard work I’ve done.

5. Logistical Planning was required.

   • I manage several pages and groups with real people who need and expect quick responses.  Taking a month away from that required planning, scheduling, and teamwork.
     • Can I get up on a soapbox for just a moment? 
       Dear Solentrpenuer/blogger,
       Do not try to do this alone.
       Find a group of like-minded people and engage.  Support each other.  Get to know each other.  Pray for each other.
       Online business is too isolating and the enemy wins when we try to power through it alone.
       Find a buddy! Work together, talk often and stay connected!
       It makes all the difference!!!!!!!!!!!
   • My Plan B for emergencies was to tell my Blogger Community Tribe they could reach me by PM – because Messanger is not on Facebook – and I would check that periodically.

My 2nd Fast from Social Media or Facebook has been a success.

I’ll write more about what I learned from that time and how I plan to put accountability to avoid the idolatry of it all soon.

Do you need to Fast from Social Media?  Maybe you’ve wanted to fast but giving up food seems too much.  I highly recommend planning it in 2 phases.

1. Phase 1 of a Social Media Fast – 1 week away from all Social Media

   • This will help you identify which piece is the most addicting to you.  Which platform did you most struggle to give up?

2. Phase 2 – 1 month away from the Social Media that was hardest to give up

   • As you see the real amount of time on it and enjoy the real Face to Face people in your life you will be amazed!  I guarantee you won’t regret it!

If you need help guiding your prayer time check out The Strategic Prayer Journal in The HopeJoyInChrist Shop!

in HIM,

More Posts Like This:

• 27 Fasting and Prayer Scriptures for Spiritual Breakthrough
• How to Fast and Pray in a Way that Pleases God
• 40 Days to Be Still and Know God More

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