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How Apple’s IOS 12 Update Could Reveal the Posture of Our Hearts

How Apple’s IOS 12 Update Could Reveal the Posture of Our Hearts

By Tess Farrand, Staff Writer

Click, swipe, double tap, drag… all these motions are customary in today’s world of smartphones. The technology from those chunky 90’s cell phones to flip phones, and now, smartphones is truly astonishing. Today, we can now pay for things with our phones using services like Apple pay or Google Pay and store countless mobile apps and data all with the touch of a button. With increasing innovation, Apple, known for its cutting-edge products and design, released a new feature on their IOS update that reveals the time users spend on their phones.

According to a study published in 2016, the average person touches their phone 2,617 times with the heaviest users touching their phones 5,427 times a day.

The new system update, IOS 12, became available for iPhones on September 17th. With the update comes the feature called “Screen Time.” Here, users can see how many hours and minutes user spend on their apps including popular apps like Instagram, Twitter and even daily emails. In addition, iPhones will now keep track of how many times you unlock your phone and hold it.

Before, if users looked under their “battery” section, they could see time spent on apps, but now that Apple made “Screen Time” a key feature, it could be a game changer for individuals who want to better moderate the amount of time they spend on their devices.

“Screen Time” provides personal evidence that helps people address behaviors and understand more about our digital tendencies. For some, this will no doubt be higher than expected. If utilized, users will have convictions about the time they spend on their phones. Research supports phone-consumption as astronomically high with users spending almost three hours on their phone each day.

It’s not new information that we spend so much time on our phones and screens or that it’s affecting our children. However, it’s a pleasant surprise that Apple through IOS 12 is encouraging consumers to manage the amount of time they spend on their mobile phones. With this new proof of how we spend our time, as believers specifically, it should prompt us to see if we are idolizing our phones.

The Bible urges us to have no other gods before God the Father (Exodus 20:3, Deut. 5:7). Perhaps, for iPhone users that are Christians, this will be a wake-up call to see where we place our priority and if it needs to be put in check under the throne of God.

We should adopt the posture that the following quote poses, “I want to reach for God the way I reach for my phone. When I’m bored, when I’m uncomfortable, when I need answers or entertainment, when I’m lonely and need someone to talk to.”

We live in a world where we are more connected than ever, but also more lonely than ever. This new update should give us optimism! If we find that we are spending a gratuitous amount on our phones, we can no longer let ignorance be our excuse to stop spending excess time with our screens. Let the new feature serves as a way to cultivate a healthy awareness of our state of mind and turn our hearts to interacting fully with Christ and reaching the lost!

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” – Psalm 16:11 (ESV)

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.