Beloved, hear this without varnish: spirits ride the rails of what we watch. YouTube, TikTok, reels, livestreams—these are not neutral rivers. They are liturgies shaping hunger, bending attention, and training desire. Long hours on phones and laptops do not merely “waste time”; they open gates. Keep those gates open long enough and you do not just “see” darkness—you bond with it. I’m not cursing silicon. I’m rebuking surrender. Test this in Scripture, in prayer, and in your own fruit. If it pricks, repent. If it clarifies, obey. If it offends the flesh, good—flesh is not your shepherd.
My Humble Exhortation
Stop pretending the screen is a toy; It is a teacher. Stop calling bondage “being informed”; It is a bit in your mouth. Stop baptizing hours of scrolling as “rest”; It is a slow theft of oil from your lamp. If you keep feeding the eye with mockery, lust, violence, gossip, cynicism, and vanity, do not be surprised when those very spirits feel at home in your house. You gave them a couch. You furnished it with autoplay.
Beloved, remember: your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit—you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body (1 Cor 6:19–20). If the eye is the lamp of the body, why let it gaze on abominations that dim the soul (Matt 6:22–23)? If the ear is consecrated, why seat it beneath the scoffer’s counsel and empty noise (Ps 1:1)? If the mind is Christ’s altar, why entertain thoughts that defile what is holy (Phil 4:8)? If the tongue was made to bless, why train it on the nonsensical and corrupt (Eph 4:29)? If the feet are shod with the gospel of peace, why stand in the paths where sinners trade in ruin (Ps 1:1; Eph 6:15)? And if time is a talent entrusted, why tithe it to the defilements of social media and call it leisure (Eph 5:15–16)? Let us, then, put to death what is earthly in us—impurity, passion, evil desire—so the Spirit may thrive (Col 3:5; Rom 8:13). Guard the temple gates; present your members as instruments of righteousness (Rom 6:13). Take action now: starve the flesh, feed the Spirit, and keep the sanctuary bright for the coming King.
How Spirits Enter: Five Gates You’re Ignoring
Eye Gate – What you behold, you become. Repeated sight normalizes sin and desensitizes holiness. Ear Gate – Sarcasm, blasphemy, filthy talk, and fear-mongering seed your inner language. You start thinking in the devil’s accent. Time Gate – Long exposure becomes agreement. Hours of “just watching” is not passive; it is worship by attention. Agreement Gate – Likes, follows, subscriptions, “save for later” are digital covenants. You’re telling an altar, “Feed me again.” Solitude Gate – Isolation with a device is a private chapel. Either Christ meets you there—or something else will.
Fruits That Reveal a Bond Has Formed
Prayer feels heavy, scrolling feels light. Scripture seems “boring,” controversy feels electric. Your conscience protests less; your curiosity demands more. Sleep is thin, and peace is thinner. You reach for the phone without deciding to. (That is a leash, not a habit.). Worship gathers, and you still “check one thing.” (That is a rival liturgy.). You justify what once grieved you. (That is not maturity; that is dullness.). If this is you, I’m not shaming you. I’m ringing the bell. Wake up, beloved.
Why They Want It Cheap (and Always Cheaper)
Do not be naïve. The “blessing” of low prices, trade-in deals, and free platforms is not aimed at your holiness. The economy of these systems profits by your time, data, appetite, and predictability. Your attention is a commodity. The cheaper the device, the costlier the allegiance. Nets are inexpensive; it’s the fish that are valuable.
War Plan for Pilgrims (Rebuke With a Road)
[1] Repent with precision: Name the spirits that have gained hospitality through your feed: lust, mockery, fear, rage, vanity, sloth, rebellion, envy. Say out loud, “In Jesus’ name I renounce agreement with ____.” Heaven hears specificity. [2] Shut the gates: Delete the apps that own you. Not “rearrange,” remove. Turn autoplay off everywhere. Nuke notifications that are not about vocation or covenant (family, church, work). Move the phone out of your bedroom. Darkness loves unguarded midnights. [3] Rebuild holy habits: Paper Bible in worship; phone silenced or away. Morning consecration before any screen: Psalm, prayer, silence. No-screen hours: at the table, in prayer, before sleep, during corporate worship. Weekly fast from all social feeds. Start with 24 hours. Stretch it. [4] Curate ruthlessly: Unfollow mockers and sensual bait. Refuse “suggested for you” rabbit holes; search on purpose or don’t watch. Do not browse when you’re lonely, angry, bored, or tired. That is when traps are baited. [5] Bring it into the light: Tell a mature believer exactly where you fall. Share screen-time reports. Install accountability that sends your history to someone who loves your soul. [6] Consecrate your devices: Lay hands on the phone and laptop. Pray out loud. Set them apart as tools for work and edification—not altars for appetite. [7] Replace, don’t just remove: Replace doomscrolling with Psalms aloud. Replace idle watching with intercession for the very people on your feed. Replace endless clips with long obedience: books, visitation, service, learning. [8] Guard your household: Central charging—no private screens in bedrooms. Family covenant: Scripture, prayer, conversation before any media. Teach children early: eyes and ears are gates; we keep watch together.
Specific Counsel for YouTube & Social Media
[1]. Subscriptions: keep a short, vetted list. If it stirs pride, rage, or lust, cut it. [2] Home feed: avoid it. Search with intention; close when finished. [3]. Comments: mostly cesspools—skip them. [4]. Short-form video: treat like sugar—rare, measured, never at night. [5] Live chats: often spirits of mockery and frenzy—enter with armor or not at all. [5] Music videos / “harmless trends”: test lyrics, visuals, and spirit. If it would feel wrong with Jesus seated beside you, it is wrong. And He is beside you.
A Litany of Renunciations (Pray This Aloud)
In the name of Jesus Christ, I renounce the spirit of lust, the spirit of mockery, the spirit of fear, the spirit of rage, the spirit of vanity, the spirit of sloth, and the spirit of rebellion that have entered through my watching and listening. I break agreement with every channel, algorithm, and image that exalts sin in my heart. I consecrate my eyes and ears to the Lord, Jesus Christ. Let the blood of Jesus cleanse my imagination. Holy Spirit, fill the rooms I emptied. Train my attention to love what is holy. Amen.
Self-Examination is important tool Did I touch the Bible before I touched the phone each morning? Did any notification interrupt prayer or Scripture? Why was it allowed to? What piece of content stayed with me longer than the Word today? Did I watch anything I’d be ashamed to play in front of my fellow believers? When lonely or stressed, did I run to God—or to a glowing well? If these questions sting, they are working. Always answer with action, not excuses.
Final Charge
Pilgrim, stop renting your soul to the feed. Your eyes are not for sale. Your ears are not public property. Your attention is a bride-price Christ already paid. The devices are getting cheaper not to bless you, but to bind you. Refuse the leash. Carry a trimmed lamp. Keep the Book open. Guard the gates. The Bridegroom is near. Be found sober, shining, and unentangled.