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The news can be overwhelming most days. Whether it is watched, read, or seen on social media, most of it is not very promising.
Whether it is state, country, international makes no difference. Financial reports even had the newscaster concerned for his 401K. Inflation indexes cause many to worry about the basics of living.
Straight out, the headlines can be scary. So what are we to do?
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings,
be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority,
so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
(1 Timothy 2:1-2, NASB)
There we have the best suggestion, the only solution, for those days the news causes us to feel overwhelmed.
Paul urges us to inhale deeply and pray.
He tells us to pray for all men, for all who are in authority. Leaders of all countries, all administrations, all parts of government, all aspects of leadership.
All = every single member or component. All.
We pray as Daniel did in his days:
“Daniel said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power belong to Him.
It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.
“It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him.”
(Daniel 2:20-22, NASB)
Whether we voted for them or not. Whether we agree with their policies or not. Whether they are leaders of our country or not.
We pray. While we get ready in the morning. While we go about our day or jobs. While we drive in the car. While we do our food shopping. While we cook, vacuum, or do the dishes.
We pray.
We pray about the things we understand, and those things we cannot make any sense of. We pray for those who are at the mercy of those who are cruel and evil. We pray for those who are losing their jobs. We pray for parents who aren’t sure how to guide their children in their decisions. We pray for those who are battling illnesses and cannot afford medical help.
We pray for those in government making the decisions which will impact us. We pray they will have wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
The result of such prayers is a change in us. Look back at Paul’s words. We will be the ones to live not as victims to the news, but with lives marked by peacefulness, quietness, godliness, and dignity.
May concerning headlines
cause us to pray
for all people, for all in authority
for all times.
Reflection:
How do you respond to the news? How do you pray when the news is concerning, overwhelming, or causes anxiety?
Image by AntoineLanz from Pixabay
"live not as victims to the news, but with lives marked by peacefulness, quietness, godliness, and dignity." - I love this line. I miss a good newspaper with a cup of coffee - the anticipation of the comics, a good lifestyle page - and as I grew older, the news section - it's the journalist in me. Yet today's journalism is not the journalism of my childhood or my days as a student of journalism. The Society of Professional Journalists changed its by-laws in 1995 - journalists could now be subjective instead of objective - and so the profession's nobleness has crumbled - and the words to incite to fear have become a common tool - and while that is sad - it is sadder that our soul muscles allow our first reactions to be of fear instead of faith. Maybe our fears are designed to be a call to prayer - that should be an automatic default!
ReplyDeleteMaryleigh, I meant to respond to you so see below :) Not enough coffee yet!
DeleteMaryleigh, I too, loved reading a good newspaper. Started in HS with having a long walk to school. We would buy the newspaper and read as we walked :) The news has sadly changed but I did not realize the change was made in 1995. May our fears surely call us to pray. Thank you for adding your insight as I needed it this morning!
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