I Fasted From Secular Content for 30 Days – Here’s What Happened (Video)
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” – Proverbs 16:3
Every day, we are pulled into the endless glow of our phones—scrolling, consuming, and indulging in content that often adds no real value to our lives.
Social media, TV shows, YouTube videos, and music—these things aren’t necessarily evil, but at some point, we have to ask ourselves:
How is this shaping my mind, my spirit, and my walk with God?
A while ago, I decided to put that question to the test. I asked myself:
👉 What would happen if I fasted from all secular content for 30 days?
This is what I learned.
Why Fast from Secular Content?
When we think of fasting, we often associate it with food. But fasting is about more than just giving something up—it's about uncovering what truly controls our hearts.
📖 James 4:8 – "Come near to God and He will come near to you."
I wanted to step away from anything that was distracting me from God and redirect my focus to what truly matters.
I knew it was time for a change when I realized how much of my daily life was filled with secular media. Not just social media—but hours spent watching TV shows, movies, anime, and YouTube videos that, while entertaining, were not drawing me closer to God.
So I made a bold decision.
For 30 days, I committed to cutting out all secular content.
The First Step: Breaking the Habit
I started by making practical changes:
✅ I canceled all my streaming subscriptions.
✅ I deleted all social media apps from my phone.
✅ I cleared my YouTube watch history and paused recommendations.
The hardest part? The pull.
Whenever we try to break a habit, there’s always that pull—that instinct to return to what’s comfortable.
For me, that habit was reaching for my phone first thing in the morning to watch something.
To break this habit, I made a commitment:
📌 Instead of watching secular content, I would start my mornings with prayer.
I began listening to Christian prayer channels like Grace for Purpose while going about my morning routine.
Replacing Secular Content with Godly Content
A fast is not just about removing something—it’s about replacing it with something better.
Here’s how I spent my time instead:
📖 Bible Study: After breakfast, I committed to spending at least an hour reading scripture each day.
🎥 Christian Videos: After studying, I would watch a faith-based video related to what I had read—such as Bible overviews by Mike Winger.
🎵 Christian Music & Podcasts: When I wanted entertainment, I turned to Christian podcasts, documentaries, and worship music.
And something unexpected happened...
Week 2: Finding Clarity & Direction
By the second week, I started feeling a shift.
The constant noise of secular content had been replaced with a deeper focus on God.
I wasn’t just watching less TV—I was thinking more intentionally about my life and purpose.
For the first time in a long time, I had clarity.
I found myself praying more, reflecting more, and yearning for deeper connection with other believers.
📖 Philippians 4:8 – "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
I realized that what I consume daily shapes my mind and heart—and I wanted to fill my life with things that honor God.
Week 3: Building Community & Strengthening My Faith
By the third week, my wife decided to join me in the fast.
We even started hiking together—using the time to pray and reflect on God’s direction for our lives.
During one of our hikes, we met two other believers who ended up becoming close friends. That experience reminded me that when we seek God, He leads us to the right people, places, and opportunities.
Week 4: A New Calling & Direction
One of the biggest surprises of this fast?
I wrote my first Bible study guide.
With the extra time I had, I felt inspired to create something to help others grow in their faith.
By the final week, I stumbled across a video titled "We Need More Christian Content Creators" by Paul Bernardini.
That video changed everything.
I had been a wedding filmmaker for 12 years, but for the first time, I felt God calling me to use my skills for Christian content creation.
That same week, I enrolled in Paul’s Christian YouTube course—and on January 1st, 2025, I posted my first three videos.
God was leading me in an entirely new direction.
Lasting Changes After the Fast
Now that my fast is over, I want to share the lasting impact it has had on my life:
✅ I only reactivated one streaming service (Netflix) for nature documentaries.
✅ My YouTube content is now 80% faith-based.
✅ I crave deeper biblical knowledge and history.
✅ My prayer life has become stronger—I now pray throughout the day.
✅ I have become more intentional about the media I consume.
I won’t lie—there are still movies and shows I enjoy, and I still watch some tech and filmmaking content.
But now, I’m more intentional about what I allow into my mind and heart.
📖 Proverbs 4:23 – "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
Final Thoughts: Should You Try a Secular Content Fast?
If you’ve ever felt like secular content is pulling you away from God, I challenge you to try your own fast.
It doesn’t have to be 30 days—even one week of stepping away from secular content and filling your life with faith-based media can make a huge difference.
👉 Replace distractions with time in the Word.
👉 Use your mornings to pray and seek God’s guidance.
👉 Fill your mind with what is true, noble, and praiseworthy.
This fast wasn’t just about removing distractions—it was about creating space for God to transform my heart and habits.
And trust me—He will do the same for you.
Will you try a secular content fast? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
God bless,
Thomas
