Over the period known as Holy Week (Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday) of 2020, YouVersion’s popular Bible application, The Bible app, achieved a tremendous feat. It achieved its highest level of engagement within the Holy Week period ever, with 40.6 million Bible reading plans completed and 14.1 million Bible verse shares conducted within the application. This means that Bible reading plans increased by as much 54% and Bible verse shares increased by as much as 30% from last year (2019). To date, YouVersion’s Bible app has been downloaded and installed over 420 million times on over 100 million devices. The app is estimated to be downloaded every 1.3 seconds, with an average of 66,000 people having the app opened and in usage on their devices at any given time. The application has been very successful in its reach, to say the least.
YouVersion’s popularity opens up the prospect of how the Church can utilise technology in reaching the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is an innovative and well-marketed strategy that also shows the importance of having Believers who are skilled in subjects areas such as Marketing, Business, Administration, Communications, and, of course, Computer Science and Software development. YouVersion’s popularity, on the other hand, opens up another interesting conundrum; the use of technology during one’s devotional time with God. While using the Bible app during your devotional time, notifications from other apps can become quite distracting. Even the reality of holding a mobile device that can easily switch from Bible app to the Google search engine or the Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok apps, with just the swish of a finger, can present so great a temptation to be distracted and to lose focus.
This is no call to discard using the Bible app. YouVersion’s Bible app is, honestly, my favourite application to use. The Bible reading plans, especially, have impacted my life and ministry tremendously. Something like this should not be discarded or worried about; it should be managed properly. Let’s look at seven (7) tips in managing the use of this app (and other Bible apps) during our devotional time with God.
#1 Mute all other notifications when using the app during your devotional time
It can be very distracting when, while using your Bible app, a flood of notifications from WhatsApp enter your phone’s top screen display. Sometimes it takes one notification to end an entire devotional session. Turn off all notifications via the settings on your mobile device (just temporarily) and use the app unhindered by them. This would, of course, require self-control on your part to (1) not turn back on the notifications just to “check something quickly” and (2) not to actually enter into another app, thereby adding fuel to the distraction. Also, when you are finished, don’t forget to turn back on your notifications (unless you want some digital solitude for a little while longer).
#2 Download a Bible Version and/or Bible Plan of choice and use it offline
There are versions of the Bible (such as the KJV, NKJV, NIV and ESV among others) that are available for download. Some Bible reading plans are also available for download and/or for direct use offline in the app. In both cases, consider the offline option. Turn off your phone’s WiFi or data for a moment (or your WiFi signal within your home) and access the Bible and Bible plans in their offline format. This would limit distractions but would, of course, require self-control. In such a case, it might be a better option to turn off the WiFi signal within your home instead of just the WiFi receptor of the mobile device. For more information on how to download Bible versions and Bible plans in YouVersion, click here.
#3 Set aside another time during the day to use the app
In reality, a Bible app does not have to be used during your primary devotional time. It is an excellent asset but not an absolute need. Therefore, consider setting aside another time, separate from your primary devotional time, in using the Bible app to read the Word of God and to engage in a Bible plan. This can also limit the amount of time you spend on your device, as you would have been accessing your device multiple times during the day, along with during your main devotional time. Think of it this way; it can encourage you actually spending more time with God.
#4 Use the app with someone else during your devotional time to limit distractions
The chances of you being distracted would lessen if you are in the presence of good company who can help encourage you to stay on track. If you know that you can become easily distracted but you realise how important the Bible app is to you in helping you to understand and engage in God’s Word, then find someone who can help you on that journey. Such awesome candidates would include your husband, wife, sibling, best friend, or even your children. Accountability isn’t just needed for the “big issues”, as we would like to call them. Even in such seemingly “small issues”, which are still quite important, it is good to have an accountability partner who can help keep you in check.
#5 Prioritise Communion with God over fiddling through the app
Let’s face it; there are times when you just have to not use technology during your devotional time at all. You just simply have to open up your physical Bible, get on your knees or lie on your back, and speak to and hear from God. The aim of praying, reading, and using Bible apps is to draw closer to God and have communion with Him. Therefore, there is a time and place even for technology and the Bible app. It is up to you to recognise such times. Prioritise spending time with God, whether in ecstatic praise or in silence. Don’t prioritise fiddling through an app, spending many minutes scrolling through Bible plans, trying to see which one to start. Let your aim actually be spending time with God and not spending time with the Bible app.
#6 Focus on using one Plan at a time and be committed to it
The Bible app is filled with thousands of amazing Bible reading plans. They are quite effective in helping you in your devotional life and in your spiritual development (I particularly like the Bible in One Year plan by Nicky Gumbel and the Bible reading plan by the Bible Project). However, do not try doing many Bible reading plans at the same time. It can become overwhelming and there will be a greater chance of you giving up on them altogether. YouVersion also has a system where you get awards for reading many plans and for frequent engagement. Awards are nice but those awards are only virtual. Focus on what you can do with the time you have and go step-by-step. Take your time with the app and the plans and grow as you use them.
#7 Listen to the audio versions of the Bible with your phone being away from you
Many online versions of the Bible come with an audible version, where the entire scripture is read and can be listened to. This can be helpful to you. Instead of having your phone in your hand constantly, search for the scripture you want to hear, play the audio version, and listen to it while you are lying down, kneeling or even doing chores or work. If you have headphones (especially Bluetooth headphones) they can help as well. Not having the phone always in your hand will limit the distraction factor and build your focus as you spend time with God.
This list is not exhaustive. There are many more tips we can mention and learn from as we use Bible apps, and other forms of technology, to help us in our growth in Jesus Christ.
Sources
Beacon Of Flavor 