Whatever Is True (3-min. read)

^“8 Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:8-9

 

Recently, I have been hearing from more and more people that say they are upset by what they hear on the news. And rightly so–I feel that way, too. I don’t know about you, but all too often I find that the news is concerning, and really hard to listen to, read, and watch these days. Sometimes when I see the news on TV or most often, pull it up on my computer, I feel saddened, fearful, baffled and confused by what I see and hear, and it makes me wonder what in God’s name has happened to this world He created.

Technology, and TV, could easily bring people together for good in so many ways. But too often, instead, it is used to scare, separate, and divide people in every way possible. Unfortunately, we now have a front row seat to so much negativity, so much violence, causing us to grow in fear of our safety, our health, other people, and the world itself. Tragically, news organizations even make it possible to watch wars on TV as they are happening in real time.

Living Peace-filled Lives

This is not good for our mental and emotional health, physical well-being, or spiritual health. It can easily affect our minds, diminish positive thinking, and cause depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. It can disrupt the peace we need to live happy, joy-filled lives, and leave us feeling anxious, fearful, and continually confused and unaware of what is true and what is not.

Clearly, when we watch the news, we are no longer getting ‘just the facts’ as we did many years ago with a news anchor some of you may remember named Walter Cronkite. What we are seeing and reading now is mostly people promoting their own opinions on current and world events, and calling it news, without any real facts—too often with little reality or truth.

It is especially baffling for us as Christian truth seekers, who are called to look for the good in situations, and people. Finding out what is right and true and good may seem almost impossible, depending on where you look for it. But if evil seems to be taking over, and truth is nowhere to be found, I think the following scripture says it best:

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.”

Isaiah 5:20

So how can we as Christian believers continue to live peace-filled lives, with all that seems to be going on in this crazy world? What can we do to keep our peace with all the negativity that we hear each day on the news and that surrounds us? Well, the scripture for today lays out a wonderful plan to help us keep our calm, live in inner peace free of fear, and grow in our faith, even as this world is full of deception, mayhem, and chaos:

“….Brothers and sisters, 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. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:8-9

Today’s scripture is very helpful in lots of practical ways. It helps us continue to look for the good in all people, and this world. It guides our minds and our path as we seek peace in our daily lives. As believing Christians, we are in the world, but not of this world. Our eternal home is actually in Heaven, not here on earth as we know it. We are just passing through.

Regardless of What’s Going On

Today’s scripture also encourages us to focus squarely on Jesus, learn from Him, and live out what we learn, regardless of whatever is going on in this world. Each of us needs to do everything we can to get to know Jesus, stay close to Him, follow Him, and serve Him with all your being each day—regardless of what is going on in the world around us.

Even if it means turning off the news to keep or restore your peace!

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (Prayer for Peace)

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

© Copyright Adele M. Gill

____________________________________________________

The Inspiration Café PODCAST with Adele

https://theinspirationcafeblog.net/podcast/

 The Inspiration Café BLOG with Adele

https://theinspirationcafeblog.net/blog/