How do you guard your heart in a world that inundates you with its evil?

[AGTG]

There have been seasons when I've just shut everything out and avoided news stories, politics, and anything that comes from the mass media.

But then I wonder if that's bad because then I don't really know what's going on in the world.

Then I think about how much of it is slanted to the point that's it's more lie than truth.

And I know there are times when this kind of stuff just makes me angry, and the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. I don't want to develop callouses on my heart, either.

So... I've kind of gone all or nothing one way or the other. How do you all handle this kind of thing?

[Travis]

Hey Jeff,

[rant]

For the past ..... almost 3 years, I have let fear reign in my heart, an unhealthy practice, in ways that I should not have. I was listening to voices that claim to be from God, but in actuality are not speaking things that are becoming of sound doctrine. There is a gospel out there which is being preached across the land that I think could be named "the gospel of fear." Not that there is any other gospel but one. This gospel of fear, whether it is explicitly mentioned or not, tells people that they need to shape up and get right with God, because we are about to enter into the most horrifying, terrible, dreadful, testing ever conceived. This gospel of fear teaches people that if they don't get their act straight, they aren't going to be counted worthy to endure to the end. This gospel of fear is actually no gospel at all, because the word gospel means "good news," and what is being preached is not good news at all. In fact it is quite bad news if you ask me. This "gospel," leads men to trust in their own ability to save themselves from the woes to come. Yet, we cannot even endure one day except by the grace of God, let alone the destruction and chaos that will eventually come upon the world. The same gospel that was saving people 100 years ago, 400 years ago, 2000 years ago, 6000 years ago, is still saving people today. That gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord, and he shed his blood for us to save us from the wrath of God. If we are saved from the wrath of God, what can the wrath from a created being really do to us?

What this gospel fails to mention, is that it is the grace of God which sustains and strengthens his people. Where the devil gives the world his worst, God counters every time. God only gives us the grace to handle the mess we are in when we need it and not a second sooner. If you bought me a plane ticket to Honolulu for next month, where I had an important meeting to attend, and you handed me the ticket right now, I might lose that ticket between now and my flight... and then I wouldn't be able to make it. But, if you waited and handed me that ticket in the terminal of the airport, I wouldn't have much chance of losing it. I often get worried that something is going to go wrong with the "flights," I plan on attending in the future, because I don't yet have the ticket in my hand to hand to the attendant. But, in reality, the person holding onto the ticket right now is much more secure and reliable than myself. I should be glad he is holding onto the ticket. If I was holding onto the ticket, I would surely lose it. When the time comes for my flight, He will hand me the ticket I need. No sooner, no later. In fact, if he wants to he can delay or completely cancel that flight and book another one if it pleases him. All things are possible with God.

[/rant]

So, coming back to your topic, recently, I have been ignoring a lot of news feeds I have entertained in the past. Anything that is laced with that spirit of fear gets tuned out pretty quick by myself. Being informed is important, but trusting in God is more important in my opinion.

Matthew 6
33"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

That's kind of where I am at,

I can only really handle one day at a time, much more than that is too much for me. Some people would say that makes me weak. I would totally 100% agree with them.

Grace to you,

Travis

[Lou Newton]

There have been seasons when I've just shut everything out and avoided news stories, politics, and anything that comes from the mass media.

But then I wonder if that's bad because then I don't really know what's going on in the world.

Then I think about how much of it is slanted to the point that's it's more lie than truth.

And I know there are times when this kind of stuff just makes me angry, and the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. I don't want to develop callouses on my heart, either.

So... I've kind of gone all or nothing one way or the other. How do you all handle this kind of thing?

Hi Jeff and Travis.

I thank you both for your posts.

It is not where we walk.

It is not how fast we walk.

It is not if we walk or run.

IT IS WHO WE WALK WITH

As Jonathon said when he and his armorer were about to attack a whole garrison of Philistines. One man with God is a majority against the whole world.

One reason some are walking in fear ( this is not true for all) is that they are not confident that they are following The Lord, but they may be following their own desires.

Much of the church preaches that Gideon was wrong in putting out the fleece twice the way he did. But The Holy Scriptures call Gideon a man of faith.

Gideon wanted to make sure that he was following the commands of The Lord and not anything else. Gideon kept checking this at every step of the way. Notice that The Lord never scolded him for this.

So what should I read. What should I think about, What should I pray about, Or even what should I eat.

If I give my life to The Lord, my life not mine any more. Every decision, every act is given to Him.

We do not have to be wiling to do His will. ( if that was the case, Jonah would never have preached to Nineveh)

WE ONLY HAVE TO BE WILLING TO BE MADE WILLING TO DO HIS WILL.

When you awake every day, give your day to Jesus and then rest in Him.

You can be sure that if The Lord tells you to go to Teran, Iran to preach of their destruction and you are afraid, but you have truly given your life to Him, The Lord will get you there.

Even if you run away to the south pole, if God has to He will have a submarine sink your ship, pick you out of the cold sea, and take you to Iran.

This is why we are told to pray about everything. A man can simply ask The Lord what he should read, and The Lord will show that man.

After all we were all connected to a false prophet at one time, or another. Did The Lord let us to be led away. No, He brought every one of us out of that error. We do not have to leave of our own free will. After all Jonah did not buy a ticket to Nineveh did he. But that ticket took him to Nineveh didn't it.

It does not depend on us, it depends on Jesus.

We only have one concern. Is our heart given to Jesus. If He has our heart, He will make us follow our heart.

Look what David says.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.


1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.


5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

THE HOLY SPIRIT TELLS US THROUGH PAUL THAT THE MAN WHO HAS CHRIST HAS EVERYTHING THERE IS TO POSSESS AND LACKS NOT ONE THING

SO WE HAVE TWO WITNESSES OF THIS TRUTH, PAUL AND DAVID

Grace to you,

Lou Newton
Bond servant of Jesus

[Travis]

Lou,

Thank you for the response.

After all we were all connected to a false prophet at one time, or another. Did The Lord let us to be led away. No, He brought every one of us out of that error. We do not have to leave of our own free will. After all Jonah did not buy a ticket to Nineveh did he. But that ticket took him to Nineveh didn't it.

It does not depend on us, it depends on Jesus.

Matthew 24:24 KJV
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

We are all deceived in some way or another for a time or a season. Ok, more realistically, we are all very deceived about a number of things, quite often, we just don't know it. But if we are Christ's, and he is ours, then we are not deceived about who our savior is. Ultimately, the promise is, that those who are chosen by God will not be deceived, because it depends on Him, and not on them.

We only have one concern. Is our heart given to Jesus. If He has our heart, He will make us follow our heart.

...

THE HOLY SPIRIT TELLS US THROUGH PAUL THAT THE MAN WHO HAS CHRIST HAS EVERYTHING THERE IS TO POSSESS AND LACKS NOT ONE THING

SO WE HAVE TWO WITNESSES OF THIS TRUTH, PAUL AND DAVID

Grace to you,

Lou Newton
Bond servant of Jesus

Thank you Lou, and amen.

Travis

[AGTG]

Thanks, guys. I know there have been times when the Lord has straight up told me, "Don't go there" when I find some news stories on forums and such. When He is that clear, I typically listen.

Other time I don't hear anything, but I suppose I should ask, especially if I'm finding it affecting my heart.