It seems as though we are bombarded with bad news coming at us relentlessly. We don't have time to process one breaking news report before we hear of another. We can have various reactions to this. My husband is a "news junky" and wants to know what is happening and the implications of what is happening from every angle. I'm more of the "I want to be informed, but can't take too much of it" camp. Some are from the "I don't want to know, just let me focus on something else, preferably something lovely" camp. (Hence, a flower to go with today's scripture instead of a current news event photo!) Whatever camp you are from, there are some things that might be helpful to remember as you are watch or hear about current events in our world.
Remember that you are a citizen of the kingdom of God above all else. As we watch the news, it's human nature to think, "how does this affect me and/or how does this affect my country?". We need to see things from a Biblical perspective and through the eyes of a citizen of the kingdom of God. As such, some of the things we can ask ourselves as we watch the news are:
-What is satan up to "behind the scenes" of what I am watching? For example, perhaps the racial upheaval and violence in our nation is the symptom of something deeper. Could it be that the enemy is at work stirring up strife, hatred, disunity, contention and confusion? We can boldly ask God to annihilate the schemes of the enemy and to turn what satan means for evil to good. We can ask God to help us as His people to be examples of what it means to love people of every tribe and tongue and to treat everyone with honor, dignity and respect.
-How is what I am seeing going to affect religious freedom, the spreading of the gospel and the persecuted church? God forbid that we treat as ho hum and think "what does this have to do with me?" when we read news such as Russia has banned evangelism outside of the confines of the church. When we hear of other nations where the gospel is forbidden, we must realize that there are still Christians in those nations who are still witnessing, still meeting with other believers, still seeking God at the risk of their very lives. They need our prayers. They need us to pray the scripture I put in today's photo, that the Word of God will spread swiftly in spite of resistance, and that God and His truth will be glorified. We need to pray for strength, encouragement, provision and protection of persecuted believers. We need to pray for supernatural revelation of Who Jesus is to those who are trying to shut down the spread of the gospel. (If God can change Saul, who tired to annihilate the early church, into Paul, the apostle and first missionary of the early church, then He is able to change those who are persecuting the church in our day. God does not change!)
-How can I pray for the people who are affected by what is in the news? The Holy Spirit is an intercessor extraordinaire. We can ask Him to give us a heart for the people involved in stories we see on the news, we can ask Him to help us to see things from His perspective, and we can ask Him what and how to pray. We can also ask Him if there's anything He wants us to do about the situation and then obey Him when He shows us! Have you read that your city has a huge problem with sex trafficking? Perhaps God wants you to get involved in a ministry that helps women coming out of the sex industry. Are you burdened for persecuted believers around the world? Maybe God is asking you to commit to daily pray for them.
As we read or watch the news, we can use it as a prayer target. For example, the nation of Turkey is in upheaval. We can use that news and target Turkey in prayer, asking for God's will to be done in that country. We can pray for Him to protect the people and His work in that nation and to keep the gospel and His kingdom spreading there. Whether it's the newspaper headlines or breaking new alerts posted on your iPhone, take a few seconds to pray rather than just thinking, "Oh, that's terrible!" and moving on with your day.
It's easy to get overwhelmed with all of the bad news we are seeing. It's easy to become overwhelmed and immobilized. We have to fight that tendency and become the mighty army of intercessors and obedient Christ followers that will make a difference. It begins with you and me.
still following,
Elizabeth, this is such a wise and needed post for all of us. We cannot ignore what is happening around us. We must be agents of His love, grace, and mercy in a world that desperately needs Him. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, too, Joanne! It's easy to get bogged down and discouraged with all of the bad news, but I really do want it to motivate me to prayer instead of hopelessness.
DeleteThank you Elizabeth for highlighting ways we can combat the evil that we are faced with constantly in our world. God's kingdom has already won the battle but we need to be open to defending what is good and right. Your first point of remembering we are a citizen of God['s kingdom above everything else is where I need to focus everyday. Bad news is consuming but God has overcome. Blessings as we make our way through a new week.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you, too, Mary! So glad you popped in here at W2W!
DeleteI am your neighbor at Lisha's today and am so grateful for I am here and read your encouraging words, Elizabeth. We are truly bombarded and what satan would like is to keep us bombarded with his lies. The terrorists cause terror to weaken us. We are to stand strong in the Lord and let Him be our stronghold. I am in the "informed but don't need the onslaught" camp with you, yet am so affected by the constant stream of bad and terrible news. I am the kind of person who has always, since childhood, tried to patch up relationships, situations, everything. I want peace and harmony. I cannot literally patch this world or our country up but I can pray and do those things you have listed. Thank you, thank you.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you and I have so much in common with how we process strife and stressful situations!
DeleteThessalonians is the perfect prayer for these times, isn't it? Your encouragement here is so timely and so needed, Elizabeth. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, June! We need to band together in prayer and in encouraging one another during these trying times.
DeleteAmen! God and His truth WILL be glorified!
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of flower is that?
It was growing wild by the river, so I have no idea what kind it is. I just knew it was interesting!
DeleteElizabeth you are 100% correct!!!! AND the REALLY sad thing is....I bet you wrote this post BEFORE Louisiana's Sunday event.
ReplyDeleteWe all must pray for our country. Things have really declined.......and quickly! How are other countries looking at us and this coming election? If we don't "unite" we will not be the the United States of America any longer.
God Bless~
Addie