There is no question that in these days most of us are having an information overload—especially with world and local news. We are constantly barraged by the traffic of news, and most of us don’t know how to handle it.
We must understand that what we are seeing and hearing every day is substantially affecting us; that is, we are always deeply affected by what we experience.
The constant negative images of war, murder, child abuse and crime have the potential to actually change who we are without our knowing. For instance, if we watch constant violence, we can become quick to anger and slow to forgive. If we watch government, corporate and religious corruption, we might become cynical and skeptical of leaders everywhere. Others will then experience these shifts in our behavior.
We don’t, however, have to allow the news to shape us in this way. We can escape its influence. But to do this we need to prepare our hearts for it, for “out of the heart come the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).
We must receive news with a guarded heart and with a deep sense of stewardship of life. Only then can God lift us to a new level of relationship with Himself. In short, we must practice the presence of God in our lives at all times, for it is prayer and faith and time in God’s Word that brings us into the center of His will—even while watching news.
The key Scripture in helping us prepare in this way is found in Romans 12:1-2: “...present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service [worship]. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Do not focus on the “news” of this world but on the “Good News” of God’s Kingdom! And remember, our lives are always the product of choices we are making with Him each and every day!
