The Instagram Snafu: The Tree of Life vs. The Tree of Knowledge

I didn’t think it would really matter if I checked my text messages and hopped on Instagram first thing after waking up. But I sure learned the hard way. Here’s the story of the Instagram snafu, how I learned the importance of choosing the Tree of Life first vs. the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and why I now try my darndest to go to God first thing in the morning.

Freedom to Choose

I love how God gives us choices. He says, “Choose this day, blessings or curses.” Pick one. He says, “The power of the tongue are life and death.” Pick one. Hot or cold, pick one. Tree of Life vs the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Pick one.

That was the first choice humankind was presented with in the Garden of Eden: the Tree of Life vs the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Well, it’s not hard to see the parallel between our two main choices today when we need to make a decision. There’s a quiet battle between where we’ll turn for our source of wisdom and direction. We can turn to God’s Word (The Tree of Life) or Google (The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil).  Pick one.

He’s not a controlling manipulative god. He’s a God who delights in freedom and free choice. His Word is packed with wisdom in how to make those choices, but ultimately, He will not force the hand. He gives us freedom to choose, even when our choices leave Him weeping.

First Thing First

First thing in the morning, we have a choice. Firsts are super important in the economy of heaven. First fruits aren’t always the best of the harvest, but they are to be set aside holy to the Lord. And I’ve seen this doesn’t just apply to farmers or ranchers or bankers.

If our most precious commodity is time, then we want to give God our first of that too.

“He wakens me morning by morning with ears to listen like one being taught.”

How many days have you noticed that when you seek God’s kingdom first in prayer and in His Word, the entire day shifts. Time stretches. I get more done. I see His hand more in my life. I see Him take care of things in supernatural ways.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you,” (Matthew 6:32-34). In a nutshell, that means put God first and He will take care of all your other needs.

Over the years, I developed a habit of praying as I fall asleep and praying as I wake up. And this bled into praying throughout my whole day. But beginning the day with prayer, often before I even get out of my bed, has been the best thing for my heart.

I’m a slow mover. I prioritize rest and restful pace, initially because I just didn’t have a with my health history. And the hidden blessing of all those trials was how it taught me to come to God first and for everything. I had to pray for strength just to get up every morning. To make it through one more day.

Instagram Wake-Up Call

While I was developing this habit, I noticed I would go to my phone in the mornings often. I would wake up, talk with God a bit in prayer in bed, use the restroom. But sometimes I would grab my phone before my Bible. I remember one day that I decided to not to read His Word first. I wanted to just start that day scrolling Instagram. I knew I had freedom and it wasn’t like a religious rule to go to His Word first. So I decided to scroll instead of sit with the Holy Scrolls. And I ignored the quiet whisper to go to God first.

And while I did, a messenger notification popped up. It sent me reeling in fear and panic and terror. A message from an old and very toxic relationship, someone I thought had finally stopped trying to track me down, showed up that morning first thing on my phone.

It was that moment that I truly realized it’s not a religious choice to go to God’s Word first thing. It’s God’s heart of protection for me. Going to God’s Word and prayer first thing in the morning is just flat-out wisdom and survival to get through this life!

That moment was a wake-up call for me… to choose very wisely where I turn to when I wake up!

True Life vs. Knowledge

I was taught a rulesy version of this that missed the heart of God. I was taught that’s just what you do if you’re a Christian. You read God’s Word first. But it was more like a rule or a box to check. I didn’t realize turning to God first was truly deeply because God wants to love and protect me. It wasn’t just a silly rule but was actually for my own good until that morning on Instagram. I realized that if I had put Him first, He would have had the chance to prepare me, steady me, fortify me. I know I wouldn’t have had a near panic attack when that old ghost of a relationship popped up on my phone that morning in a message.

When we give the first access of our hearts each morning to the Lord, we are setting ourselves up right… starting our day hiding in His wings and under His protection. Hearing His voice and following His lead.

So when I hear, “Choose this day, blessings or curses. Life or death. Tree of Life or the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil,” I also hear, “Choose this day, Your phone (tree of knowledge of good and evil) or God’s Word (the Tree of Life).“

That’s not to say we shouldn’t ever use our phones. It’s just to say that where we turn first will make a massive difference on the path of our lives and the level of peace with which we walk it.