“I am bored.”
“I’ll just scroll online to do some product research.”
“Wow! Look at this sale; I’ve never seen it priced this low, and I have a coupon for another 20% off!”
Welcome to the snare of addiction to online shopping!
Dealing with an online shopping addiction is like trying to quit smoking when you have a lit cigarette in an ashtray on your desk. The art of the deal online is right there at your fingertips, just waiting for you to click that website. More and more, I am seeing clients write “shopping” in the space next to addictions under our Bondage, Stronghold.
A Client’s Confession
“I was around people at my job every day before COVID-19 hit. Now I work from home, and I have a lot of free time. I get bored, and I am an avid researcher, so I try to think of something I want or need to go online and research it. Heck, last week, I ran out of needs, so I found myself bulk-purchasing bras and underwear at Victoria Secret for the future. It was the final price that made me realize I was in over my head, and I needed to call you for help.”
Covid-19 boredom is not the only culprit. Many people fed up with political Facebook posts replaced their newsfeed scroll with the online shopping scroll. They fasted Facebook and gorged on Amazon. Let’s face it; online shopping has become like eating. It’s now a necessity with so many retail stores cutting their stock or closing; however, rationalizing your gluttonous online shopping appetite is a problem.
Warning Signs of Online Shopping Addiction
- Amazon, Fedex or UPS trucks start coming to your house every day.
- Your recycling bin only has room for cardboard boxes.
- You get a rush from shopping, and you can’t stop.
- Your credit card bill is mainly online shopping purchases.
- You’d rather be online than with people.
Demons don’t care how they distract you; they just want to distract you!
I am trying to help you and make things easier for you and not make things difficult, but so that you would have undistracted devotion, serving the Lord constantly with an undivided heart. (1 Cor. 7:35 TPT)
We are in a war over God’s presence, and the thief comes to steal your time from God. Online shopping can become an idol.
5- Keys to Detox
- Put God first. Begin your day with prayer, reading the word, and worship in a place void of notifications and alerts from your computer or cell phone. He is faithful to start your day right if you put him first.
- Ask for forgiveness for entertaining that spirit of addiction and repent for any idolatry.
- Command that all spirits of addiction to online shopping loose you now in the name of Jesus Christ. Next, release peace, clarity, wisdom, and knowledge in the name and blood of Jesus Christ. Then declare that you have the mind of Christ, and the wisdom of God is formed within you.
- If you must shop online, set time aside weekly to shop like you would when going to the store for groceries. It’s like dieting or fasting. You decide in advance.
- Put your cell phone in another room during your usual scrolling times. Detaching from the source is vital.
Don’t give the devil your devotion or your finances. It is time for some boundaries.
Of course, if you need help, we are only one intake form away!
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