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Saddleback Church July 29, 2025 1m

What if we were to check in with God as much as we check in with our smartphones? 😮

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  1. Social media and smartphones have Social media and smartphones have created a flood of dopamine in the human created a flood of dopamine in the human created a flood of dopamine in the human brain more than we were ever meant to brain more than we were ever meant to brain more than we were ever meant to experience. And now dopamine has stopped experience. And now dopamine has stopped experience. And now dopamine has stopped doing in our brains what it's supposed doing in our brains what it's supposed doing in our brains what it's supposed to do. It's supposed to bring pleasure to do. It's supposed to bring pleasure to do. It's supposed to bring pleasure and joy and peace. Cuz we've been and joy and peace. Cuz we've been and joy and peace. Cuz we've been flooded with dopamine. So many of our flooded with dopamine. So many of our flooded with dopamine. So many of our brains feel cluttered. We feel numb. And brains feel cluttered. We feel numb. And brains feel cluttered. We feel numb. And that is because our brains are flooded that is because our brains are flooded that is because our brains are flooded with dopamine. But here's the wonders of with dopamine. But here's the wonders of with dopamine. But here's the wonders of the way that God has made our bodies and the way that God has made our bodies and the way that God has made our bodies and our brains is that you rest it for a our brains is that you rest it for a our brains is that you rest it for a couple of weeks. Your brain will couple of weeks. Your brain will couple of weeks. Your brain will regenerate and the dopamine receptors in regenerate and the dopamine receptors in regenerate and the dopamine receptors in your brain will reset after a couple of your brain will reset after a couple of your brain will reset after a couple of weeks. All of a sudden, you will feel weeks. All of a sudden, you will feel weeks. All of a sudden, you will feel more joy than you have felt in a long more joy than you have felt in a long more joy than you have felt in a long time cuz your brain reboots. You'll time cuz your brain reboots. You'll time cuz your brain reboots. You'll notice things you haven't noticed notice things you haven't noticed notice things you haven't noticed before. Professor Felicia Woo Song out before. Professor Felicia Woo Song out before. Professor Felicia Woo Song out here in California once said, "What if here in California once said, "What if here in California once said, "What if my antenna were always outstretched my antenna were always outstretched my antenna were always outstretched toward checking in with God as much as I toward checking in with God as much as I toward checking in with God as much as I am always checking my smartphone? What am always checking my smartphone? What am always checking my smartphone? What if I was filled with great expectancy if I was filled with great expectancy if I was filled with great expectancy that there would be a word for me and I that there would be a word for me and I that there would be a word for me and I could trust that that word would not be could trust that that word would not be could trust that that word would not be a word that simply demanded something a word that simply demanded something a word that simply demanded something from me, but a word that came to nourish from me, but a word that came to nourish from me, but a word that came to nourish me? What if I knew that there was a word me? What if I knew that there was a word me? What if I knew that there was a word that revealed God's very nature waiting that revealed God's very nature waiting that revealed God's very nature waiting just for me?" The digital fast will just for me?" The digital fast will just for me?" The digital fast will refresh your mind. It will restore your refresh your mind. It will restore your refresh your mind. It will restore your relationships. will help you reclaim relationships. will help you reclaim relationships. will help you reclaim your focus. It will renew your your focus. It will renew your your focus. It will renew your connection with God.

Summary

The sermon addresses the overwhelming dopamine flood from social media and smartphones, which numbs our brains and hinders true joy and peace. By referencing the brain's ability to regenerate and quoting Professor Felicia Woo Song on intentionally seeking God, the takeaway is that a digital fast can refresh our minds, restore relationships, and renew our connection with God.

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