Every single day, we are bombarded with the very worst of news. Whether you hear the bad news on the television, on your phone, or through a friend, there is no shortage of it. If there are good things happening or positivity abounding somewhere, it feels as if it’s rarely shared.
The problem is that a steady diet of bad news will quickly incite fear in our hearts. This fear will then spread like wild fire to our family, friends, and co-workers. Fear is like a drug, and as you feed it, it will keep you coming back for more.
Is it possible to live a peaceful, joy-filled life in the middle of a world filled with the effects of a global pandemic, riots, protests, and a presidential election? I believe it is possible, and here are a couple simple steps I take every day.
Guard My Heart
The first thing I have to realize is that I am personally responsible for the condition of my heart. The reason this is so important is because the Bible tells us that all of the issues of my life flow out of my heart. (Proverbs 4:23) God tells me that I am the sole guardian of my heart and responsible for its care.
Another passage I’ve come to appreciate is John 14, where Jesus is speaking to the disciples before His crucifixion. They were about to lose their beloved leader. He was explaining what He would have to go through, and that their lives were about to get very difficult. Yet in John 14:1, He says, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled…” In other words–don’t let it happen! They had a say in whether or not their hearts would be troubled, and so do you and I.
How do I practically guard my heart? Every day, I make the choice to fill my mind with God’s Word. I spend time in His Word every morning, memorize scripture, and meditate on it. I have to focus on things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. (Philippians 4:8)
I don’t have to live in fear about current events or the circumstances of my life. Instead of being paralyzed with fear, my heart can be filled with constant peace and joy, despite my circumstances.
Trust in God
When I live in God’s kingdom, I will understand that I don’t have to worry about anything. It may sound cliché, but He’s got everything under control, and He’s working my current circumstances for good. (Rom. 8:28) Do you trust Him?
In Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard says, “It is confidence in the invariably overriding intention of God for our good, with respect to all the evil and suffering that may befall us on life’s journey, that secures us in peace and joy.”
The lens through which I must view everything that happens in my life is one of complete trust in a good God. Every single thing that happens in my life has passed through the hands of God Himself. He has allowed it, and His overriding intention is for my good.
We are living in one of the most challenging and character-building years that I’ve seen in my lifetime. If I will guard my heart and trust in God, I can live a life of courage, bravery, and fearlessness—yes, even in 2020.
Will you take personal responsibility for the quality of your life?
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