What is a 30-Day Secular Media Fast?

What if the noise of godless media is drowning out the voice of God? Not all media is bad... but maybe the distraction away from God is making harder to hear and see God at work.

This is a journey of a group of high school students who have committed to take 30 days to focus on God through God-centered media. This includes TV, movies, books, magazines, smart phone apps, and many social media outlets.

Here, you can follow their stories, their lives, and their challenges. Feel free to leave comments and encouragement.

Read
Relate
Respond

Monday, April 2, 2018

Over Already?

     Man, I can't believe that the media fast went by that fast! I remember at the beginning of the fast when I thought I would be dreading every day and would have nothing to do but, it happened to be the opposite. I had a lot of work at school because of spring break and during spring break we were pretty busy with family and trips. Even though we were busy I still feel like I got a lot more connected to God through all the movies I watched, songs I listened to and through reading my bible. This media fast really helped me with the way I reacted to things and after the fast I can see myself getting a little more angry over small things. So, even though the fast is over I am going to try to limit myself on media and read my bible more often.  All in all, I can't wait for next year's media fast and I am grateful for all the people who supported and prayed for me throughout the fast.

The End?

Well here we are, the media fast has been over for a couple days now and we can go back to media. However when I went back on Instagram and Snapchat I realized that I wasn't that interested in what was on there. I have learned to take a step back from everything going on in the world and see Gods point of view instead of people's point of view. There were a few times that I slipped up like when we were in the store and a song was playing I realized that I was humming along with it and I have to stop myself. Overall I have learned to focus more on God and learn more about him. Thank you to everyone who prayed and everyone who sponsored me during the fast. And to everyone who participated in this with me I hope we can remember what we have learned and not forget what the fast was about.
-Jordan

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Return of The Media

I tried to make a good title, probably too cheesy but the blog post won't let you down... hopefully. The end of the media fast will come differently for others. Some might look back and say "thank goodness I'm out of this mess". Others might think that "it was fine" and "it won't affect me later" but when I look back I'm going to remember this journey and how it will improve my future life. I know that media has became apart of our lives because we see it everywhere. We see it in our friends, our school, politics, pretty much everything except the Amish. We care for it and we use it for a lot of things. That transition from straight media to straight non media was a punch in the face. As I look back I realize that punch was knocking sense into me showing me that I have been blinded from the true power of God. When I was on this media fast I saw things through my daily life that seemed like it was influenced by God. I would ask him questions through my prayer and hope for an answer like he was actually talking to me but instead I would listen to music or read passages that would be like little puzzle pieces. Those puzzle pieces would be put together and form a big picture. That picture would be the answer to my questions, something that is not showed and covered when we are sucked into the excessive amount of media. I guess the real point is that we should all cut back on media and make sure that we are aware of Him and what He does for us. As I continue my journey to get closer to God I know I have to change some of my previous habits so I can make cutting out media a habit. I am so glad that I was able to do this and I'm looking forward to doing more than just one month of fasting next year.

A forever kind of love

He Has Risen! (I know right?)
Happy Easter! This wonderful day also coincides with April Fools' Day and the end of the media fast. A lot to be thinking about today. Here are a few of the things I've been thinking about:
     I can't believe the fast is over already! And this is the end of my "official" fasting as I am a senior, but I'd love to continue to fast in years to come. I've memorized almost every Silly Song in existence and can quote Courageous and Moms' Night Out almost perfectly, but I've also been able to spend more time with my family and with my loving Creator. I've seen His power and majesty in everything, from the rain just a week ago to the brilliant sunshine now, from the rush of a spring break band trip to the peace and quiet of an "Easter nap."
     I really don't want to go full into media again. Though I was exposed to some music and some social media while I was around my friends, I had no longing to go back to it. The more I think about it, the more overwhelmed I become with even considering letting that stuff back into my life. A lot of it isn't positive and encouraging, and I think that I should be trying to keep my life as positive and encouraging as possible. If the occasion does arise where my family wants to go out for a movie, I would most certainly love to join them, because the movie is only half the fun of the outing. Getting to spend time with my family is a blessing, even though we can be a little... strange... sometimes. But that's just one of the things that comes with being in a family. And to be honest, I'm glad that God decided to throw in a little weird, cuz that makes ordinary things (and now, I'm noticing, things without media) way more fun!
     This fast has helped me be patient with a lot of things, because I am learning to not just jump on Google to look up an answer or open Snapchat to see what's going on in the world right now because I don't really need to know everything right now. It's good for me to wait, because God's perfect plan will come in time. I don't have to know exactly what He has planned for my future right in this very moment (though sometimes I'd really like to know) and I can rest assured that whatever is in my future is for a reason. He's got a reason for everything, even when it seems like those things might not be so good.
     Thanks to all of our sponsors! Your prayers are greatly appreciated and your financial support has done and will do amazing things in the lives of so many people. I am so looking forward to this mission trip, and I can't wait to come back with more stories of how God has changed my life!
     The media fast may be ending, but God's love NEVER ends!!
Remember, God made us special, and He loves us very much. Goodbye!
-Madeleine Jones