Picking up the newspaper is one of the most discouraging things we can do any more. There are usually a few good stories about how someone helped a neighbor out but for the most part, most of the features deal with murder, political turmoil, drug arrests and other heartbreaking accounts. If you weren't depressed before you read it, you almost certainly will be after. Watching television is not much better. Today, there was another school shooting with wall to wall coverage. Not only were the students traumatized but so are those who watch this happening on the screens in our homes. Often we do not realize the impact that such negative news has on our psyche. News stations do not report it just once, but they continue to beat the same drum over and over again.
On top of newspapers and T.V., we also have social media. I enjoy my time on Facebook to reconnect with friends, but there can also be negatives with this as well. Arguments, debates, unfriending and all the rest can happen in a heartbeat leaving you to wonder what you said that caused the problem. However, the Bible offers us a simple remedy for our information overload.
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In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul offers the believers words of encouragement. He tells them to rejoice in the Lord on a regular basis and reminds them that the Lord could return at any moment. Then, he tells them not to be worried about anything but to turn it all over in prayer to the Lord who gives us peace. This peace will guard both our hearts and our minds (Philippians 4:4-7). With this in mind, the Apostle then gives us wisdom on how to stay positive in a world filled with bad news: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me - practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you" (Philippians 4:8-9). We have not seen the Apostle Paul as these believers did but we can read in God's Word what he wrote under the inspiration of the Spirit so as to be guided in our conduct. Do we really follow what God's Word tells us to do in order to avoid negative thinking?
John MacArthur has some good insight in these verses. He says that we are to meditate on what is true...."What is true is found in God, in Christ, in the Holy Spirit and the Word." Then, he goes on to discuss the word honorable. "The Greek term means 'worthy of respect.' Believers are to meditate on whatever is worthy of awe and adoration, i.e., the sacred as opposed to the profane." Furthermore, he goes on to say that we are to think morally pure and clean thoughts (MacArthur Study Bible pg. 1780). The only way we can do this is to spend more time in prayer and the Word. What we set before our eyes has an effect on the way we live. Likewise, we need to remember that we are just passing through this world. Our citizenship is in heaven. Therefore, we need to evaluate how we use our time and what we choose to watch or read.
Paul is not suggesting in this passage that we become a recluse and stay out of all the things going on around us. We need information, but we do not need to spend our days absorbed in every political debate, every negative newscast, or the latest violent movie that has come out. If we want peace in our hearts and minds, we need to feed them both with truth that comes from spending time in God's Word. What we put in our minds will eventually come out in our lives in action or in words. May we be found faithful to pursuing a closer walk with our Lord and filling our thoughts with His truth! Selah!
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