A little over two months ago I received an email invitation to go on a 40 day social media fast. While excited about the launching of this book, I was not thrilled by the invitation. I didn’t feel like I needed to fast from social media, but the truth was that I didn’t want to and I didn’t think I could. When I was honest with myself, I realized that this was something that I needed to do, because it had become an idol. So much of my time was spent and lost mindlessly scrolling through post after post. It was time to regain some of my time and give it to God. So I made the difficult decision and turned off all my notifications and hid my apps and resolved to “go dark” for 40 days. I put “The Word before the world” as Wendy says and I let God’s light fill me as I spent more time with Him. It was so nice not feeling bound by so many notifications. And it was great having this book as a guide. Wendy’s words were a great companion as I partook of this different kind of fast. I felt like I had a big sister leading the way through this unfamiliar territory. She offered so many great insights and challenged my thinking along the way. One huge takeaway is this: When we fast, it is not about what we are fasting from, but about getting closer to Jesus. If you want to get closer to God and feel freedom, check out this book and consider doing a 40 day fast.

A good book, showing how much we rely on social media these days, it is much more than we think too!! Well laid out and not bogged down with information.

Good read.Good read.Good readGood read.Good read.Good read.Good read.Good read.Good read.Good read.Good read.Good read.Good read.Good read.Good read.Good read.Good read.Good read.Good read.Good read.vGood read.v

The 40 Day Social Media Fast book has been so life giving to me. Being distracted on my phone has long been an issue for me I have been trying to overcome, and yet to no avail. This book is the blueprint that has finally allowed me to put my phone in its proper place. Rather than trying to do it alone, this wonderful book has been like a companion, taking me to my saviour, the only one who can help me overcome. The short devotional chapters have taken me through common traps I get sucked into like; Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, online shopping, my kids gaming and general distraction and time wasting. During my many fasts with Wendy (sugar and social media) I have been brought to a place where I feel such peace, and can rest in His love. I am committed to putting my phone down regularly and fasting often in order to do life with greater intent and purpose. Thank you Wendy for this incredible resource.

I really enjoyed this. Great to help you take a good look at your social media use and understanding in taking a break! It was really nice to read this each day. I was able to focus more on the Lord during my time away. ❤️

This book was amazing. I often revisit this fast when I realize social media is just getting out of control for me. It’s an easy way to get a grip on your time and regain freedom from the thief that creeps back into your phone every so often. Highly recommend.

What an outstanding book that I totally enjoyed the philosophy and it is actually very practical. I am trying to replace some of my bad social media habits with something better! I think we could all benefit with learning to put down our phones and investing more time in relationships. Alot of time can be wasted simply scrolling social media not to account the thoughts and interests that it creates. Wendy did an excellent job writing the book and it is really easy to read and follow. It certainly has given me a new perspective to make sure that social media stays in its place and does not control parts of my life or relationships. I love the scripture and attitude of the book. I am trying to spend time with God first thing every morning and not reaching for my phone. Trying to spend time with God before I phone a friend. I love when Wendy said, "Help me to value what you value, LORD: The Enteral Soul of People." This is where we need to be.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review the book.

This book has helped me curb my social media use and I am so thankful. There is nothing more powerful than putting your phone away to really connect with our face to face loved ones. We miss so much when our faces are glued to our phones. I hope more people will slow down and disconnect. God bless you Wendy.

I am working through this book for the third or forth time now and truly love how Wendy leads me straight to Jesus' feet each day. With the distractions of social media going away for these key 40 days, it really gives a new perspective on time management and prioritizing your life. This book is worth every penny and 40 days of your time. You won't regret the beautiful time you'll gain with the Lord, your family and yourself to refocus on what's really important in life.

I love Wendy's previous books and love this one too! In a world with so many distractions, this book is such a wonderful tool to help us refocus and prioritize what matters most in life. Social media can be draining and time consuming and I think most people know it isn't a great past time, however, Wendy provides strong whys. She lays out what can feel like a lofty task, into baby steps that help make it easier to achieve. The daily encouragement and wisdom she gives is motivating and uplifting. Great book!!

I found this to be such an interesting concept. I mean, I remember the days before social media, as I'm in my mid-thirties, but to go 40 days fasting from it now... I can't even imagine. Still, this book was enlightening and gave me much to think about. Even if I never fully fast from it, just restricting and using that time doing more important things is so important and something I'm trying to incorporate now.

A book EVERYONE needs to read, especially in this day and age! Speake delivers such good points on how to live a meaningful life even without social media at the touch of our fingers.

This book is so needed in our world today. After participating in Wendy's sugar fast, I knew I definitely needed a social media fast as well. I am so guilty of wasting time through "mindless scrolling." In this book, Wendy shares many tips and inspiration for breaking the addiction to social media. While social media definitely has benefits, it can be such a distraction when it is used too much or in the wrong way. This book is a great starting point for learning how to spend more time with God and less time with a screen. I plan on reading this book often to stay reminded and refreshed. I am so thankful to Wendy for writing these life-changing books!

I was so excited to incorporate this book as a part of my Lent fast from social media! I felt that every time I have fasted from social media, I found it hard to stick to without some kind of encouragement.

Wendy's introduction to the social media fast was just what I needed to delete my apps. It gave me courage and confidence! I definitely needed the encouragement from her writing during my first week. This book was just what I needed to get off on the right start.

Although I did enjoy the book for the beginning of my fast, I felt as time went on that it was less and less helpful. Ultimately I did not finish the book because I felt like the content wasn't what I needed any longer,.

Despite that, I would still recommend this to a friend.

Thank you for the advanced reader copy!

I learned of Wendy Speake at the start of the year through a timely post on my social media feed advertising the annual 40 Day Sugar Fast. Walking with Wendy through those 40 days was powerful and eye-opening. At the end of that Fast, she announced her second book would be coming out later in the year focusing on the second most popular thing distracting and distancing us from God - social media! I was intrigued to see how the books would differ and if this second book would be as thought provoking and insightful.

It is! The 40 Day Social Media Fast is a refreshing read. Instead of bashing the World Wide Web and casting it off as the bane of our 21st century existence, Wendy challenges readers to take back the power we've placed into the devices that fill our palms and bestow it to to the rightful place, in Jesus' arms. The 40 Day Social Media Fast is a guide that will help you find your way in this digitalized, often lonely and isolating world by encouraging you with short thoughtful but hard hitting daily readings, scriptures and questions to dig deep into.

Deleting an app or setting time limits on social media platforms are great starting points, but don't actually get to the root of why we depend or spend so much time scrolling. Wendy's relational way of writing and expertise on fasting makes it easy to say "yes" to joining her in "..denying [one's]self [of] something temporal and ordinary in order to experience the One who is eternally extraordinary." It is only time with Jesus that can truly reveal the state of our hearts and the changes that need to be made.

Wendy Speake has such a gift for turning our eyes from earthly distractions that will NOT satisfy us to the knot One who can satisfy. Our Savior. This book was filled with scripture that helped point out how our distraction can become an addiction and the addiction leads us away from Jesus. Such a tool to help us break away from the addiction our devices can be and help us focus on our Lord.

What an important reminder to refocus and prioritize important things in life rather than social media. She uses lots of personal examples and Bible verses to explain reasons why we should put down our phones and spend time focusing on God, our families, and our real lives. This book made me examine the ways and reasons why I use my phone and how I can better spend that time.

"This book is dedicated to those of us who want to want God most but grab our phones more."

There are Before You Fast and Guidelines prior to the 41 chapters.

God has not called you to make a social media sacrifice but to be a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1)

The author suggests a few ideas for when to fast: January, Lent, Summer.

Each chapter contains a Bible verse, body, prayer.

Endnotes included.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC. This one didn’t really resonate with me. It was too “preachy.” Do I use my phone too much? Probably. But do I also use it for good? Mostly. I use my Bible app often. I read often. I only occasionally check Facebook and other social media things. Maybe this book would help those who spend too much time on social media but to me the author went a bit overboard in several places which made me give up on reading it.

I wanted to like it, but it was super cheesy way too often. "Get your face out of Facebook and back in the Good Book" etc.