Too much information…

We live in a world where we can get information about anything at any moment.

My daughter was home from college studying this weekend and she looked up from her laptop and said, “Mom, how in the world did you and Dad get through high school and college without the internet??”

I laughed and said, “Well, actually, we just spent a lot of time in the library!”

Honestly, I miss those days. It sure seemed simpler then.

As someone who struggled ENORMOUSLY with fear through the years, the internet certainly did not help my anxiety.

Any time I would have a symptom of something, I would devour the internet looking for the cause.

It never ever ended good!

Everything I found was a death sentence to my symptoms.

When I finally began to seek The Lord and His Wisdom about things…instead of the internet or the news…peace rushed in like a river.

I took to heart the scripture, “take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

EVERY thought.

Hmmm. Is this possible?

I am learning that it is very possible.

Our thought life is shaped by things we see, read, look at, talk about, engage in….

God’s Word says, “as a man thinks in his heart, so he becomes.” Proverbs 23:7.

WHOA.

Read that scripture again.

What are we thinking on a daily basis?

What consumes our thoughts?

It may have a lot to do with what we are consuming.

A few months ago, I reached out to a precious friend.

She is a little older than I am and I asked her how she navigated this “season” of life.

My body is changing, my face is changing…everything is changing as I grow older.

She replied, “I guard my peace.. I am careful, oh so careful in everything I read and watch. I don’t engage in conversations that steal my peace and I am selective with the influences around me.”

I was not expecting that answer. I was looking for supplements of some sort or nutritional advice.

She gave me so much more.

Scripture says, “a heart at peace gives life to the body.” Proverbs 14:30

When we surround ourselves with chaos and conflict, it affects us in many ways.

Even physical.

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:45

What we are thinking about, and meditating on—eventually comes out.

It will either be life giving, or not.

Listen, I am not saying we need to live in a big happy bubble.

However, I do think we need to be very proactive in guarding our peace.

Which in turn, means guarding what we consume each day—too much news, too many controversial podcasts, wayward music, certain movies…

Anything that triggers that lack of peace should be avoided like the plague.

“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.” 1 Corinthians 3:19

I am learning to consume more of Him and His Word, than I do of the world.

Wisdom comes every single time we read scripture.

When we go to Him in prayer, He speaks. When we read His Word, He speaks.

“He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17

The internet has NOTHING on God.

He holds all the answers.

We just need to seek Him—daily.

logging out,

jill