Last week I shared that I decided to remove search engines from my devices to help me avoid falling into the trap of my personal kryptonite—medical websites.
So far, it has helped. For the most part, I’ve realized I can survive without search engines.
I can get most of the telephone numbers and business hours I need from social media.
All my favorite businesses have apps, and I get emails whenever there is a sale. (Probably more than I'd like!)
There’s an app for news and weather, and Siri can give me random information like “How old is the actor in the Hallmark movie I’m watching?”
Overall, I’m not missing anything (except the extreme fear that comes when I google a basic symptom and am assured I have an exotic and deadly disease.)
One interesting thing I discovered about myself a few weeks ago is that I had come to rely too heavily on Google for advice. No, it wasn’t just for medical issues.
I guess it started with easy things like, “What’s the best vacuum cleaner?” Or “Where can I get the cheapest lawnmower?”. However, over time, I started seeking more personal information—advice about finances, relationships, or making life choices. I didn’t even realize it until I removed the search engine from my devices, and then I needed advice.
When I realized I couldn’t google “Advice for dealing with this difficult situation,” I began asking myself, “Why were you doing this anyway?”
Why are you seeking advice from someone you don’t know?
You don’t know what the random person who wrote an article for the internet believes, whether they believe in God, if they are an atheist or part of some weird cult. You don’t know if they have any expertise at all or are just giving their own opinion. You don’t know their life philosophy.
Why are you asking total strangers for advice or seeking the advice of an unknown expert?
Almost immediately, I was reminded of Psalm 1:1-2, which says,
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
It was a reality check for sure!!!
Once again, I was reminded how easy it is to look for ungodly council from the world when we really need to seek God for answers to our problems.
Instead of turning to a search engine, I needed to be turning to God in prayer. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
I didn’t need a random stranger to tell me how to deal with my difficult situation. I needed God’s wisdom. I need to spend time in prayer, spend time in the Word, and ask God how to deal with this circumstance.
If I still needed advice and direction (because sometimes we had trouble seeing the forest through the trees on our own), I needed to consult GODLY council.
I needed to ask Godly Christians for Biblical advice. I needed to seek out Biblically based books and resources.
As one of my friends recently said, “They say it takes a village—-well, I want to choose my village, so I know that I am basing my life of godly principles.”
News flash: Secular radio, television, newscasts, and much of what is on the internet is not based on godly principles.
We need to be wise with who we allow to give us advice and only take advice from those who are speaking godly wisdom so that we will follow God’s ways.
So that’s another lesson I’ve been learning from my little experiment. I hope it makes you think about who you’re listening to today.
Adessa Holden is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God specializing in Women's Ministry. Together with her brother, Jamie, they manage 4One Ministries and travel the East Coast speaking, holding conferences, and producing Men's and Women's resources that provide practical Biblical teaching for everyday life.
When asked about herself, she'll tell you "I'm a women's minister, a sister, and a daughter. I love to laugh and spend time with people. My favorite things are chocolate, the ocean, sandals and white capris, anything purple, summertime and riding in the car listening to music. It is my absolute honor and privilege to serve Jesus and women through this ministry.
