How Your Smartphone Can Actually Be Good For You
I think we’ve all seen plenty of information about how our smartphones are destroying our relationships and making us more distracted and discontent and a host of other negative impacts. But yet…most of us still have them. And if they’re worth having, they’re probably worth learning to use well.
So today I want to talk about how these computers in our pockets can actually make us better, holier, more Christlike people - if we treat them like a tool we can control instead of letting them control us.
First, some of my favorite Bible-specific apps:
There are other Bible apps out there, but this is by far the most common. They have lots of cool plans and features, but it’s also just easy to navigate to any passage of Scripture in whatever version you prefer.
Dwell is an audio Bible app, with lots of different voices and versions to listen in. This does require a paid subscription, but in my opinion the price is very reasonable and so worth it.
Logos is actually a Bible study software you can purchase, but their mobile app is free and has lots of cool features. You can do word studies, browse commentaries, or read some of their free resources (I use it to read Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon, though you can find that for free in a lot of places.)
Next, some basic apps that contain Christian content:
Podcasts
My preferred app for podcasts is Overcast, but the app isn’t important here. One of my favorite Christian podcasts is Knowing Faith, and they’ve branched out into a whole podcast network too. You can also listen to sermons or short devotionals in podcast format.
Music
Honestly, as much as I love digging into the Bible, one of the most impactful things for me to do is listen to worship music. It can get right to my heart when I’m having trouble focusing on reading the Bible or praying.
I personally prefer to only use Audible for fiction because I like to be able to visualize the argument of a non-fiction book, but this is a great option if you don’t like reading. There are so many great Christian books available, but a few recommendations are Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis or Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund.
Not apps, just fun hacks to make your phone more useful:
Create verse images to put on your lock screen or at the top of your to-do list. I usually just use Instagram stories to add text to a photo I’ve taken, then save the photo to my camera roll. YouVersion also has an option to create verse images, or you could use Canva or any other photo editing app. Sometimes I do a full verse, but when I’m memorizing I do the first letter of each word in the verse so I can review it without seeing the whole verse.
Arrange your apps so the most useful ones are easiest to get to. I have my most used apps front and center on the first page of my home screen. I also have a couple of widgets with the verse of the day and a few other things I want to see throughout the day. And I will sometimes put my social media apps on their own page, which I can then remove from the home screen for a day if I need a break.
This is iPhone specific, not sure how it works on other phones - but if you set a reminder for a specific time, it will stay on your lock screen til you mark it as completed. Lately as I’ve been memorizing Philippians, I will sometimes set a reminder to review the verse I’m on every two hours. By the end of the day, it’s pretty set in my mind.
As I scroll through my apps, I’m realizing this post could be so much longer if I included every app that can be helpful. Messaging and social media provide connection with other believers. I have a bookmark for my church website. My obnoxious alarm app gets me out of bed in time to start my day with Jesus every morning.
Our smartphones are capable of so many things; sometimes it’s hard to separate the good from the bad. It’s really easy to pick it up to look at a Bible app and twenty minutes later find yourself scrolling Instagram. Which is why there are definitely times when it’s smart to put the phone down and read a physical Bible.
But it’s also an amazing gift to have God’s Word at your fingertips no matter where you are. So let’s not waste it. The main thing is to remember that your phone is a tool for YOU to use in a way that improves your life. You don’t have to let it drag you into a place you don’t want to be.
What’s one thing you can change on your phone today to make it even more useful?