"Urgent Message! Breaking News!" This seems to be the opening line for much of the news on the internet these days. I've seen lede lines like: "This Was Never Meant to Happen!" Wow . . . I'd be remiss not to investigate! Right? These are meant to spike our curiosity and lure us to full attention.
I understand the draw. I confess I've spent too much time wandering through these "urgent" messages only to become overwhelmed and fearful. I believe it is important to be awake to all that is happening in the world, but yesterday the Lord said, "ONE GOLIATH AT A TIME!"
I imagined myself wandering onto a large field. Suddenly, out of the darkness came a stream of giants. Each had a name on its chest: Inflation, War, Governmental Corruption, Sickness . . . one by one they came until the field was overrun with 'Goliaths' and I was left blindly swinging my sword in every direction.
It was this week, after reading a disturbing article, I sensed the Lord say:
LIFT UP A PRAISE!
LIFT UP YOUR WORSHIP WARFARE!
I am the LORD. I control the times and the seasons over your life and this nation.
You are in my hands!
After I regained my peace, I was reminded of a word He'd given my husband and I
years ago . . . "Live orderly, simply and close to Me!" This has been the plumb line of my entire life. So, what has changed? Or, has it? 1 Thessalonians 4:11 says, "... make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands..." Though the early church was under great opposition, Paul urged the Thessalonians to follow this pattern "more and more" for a life pleasing to God.
I sensed the Lord saying . . .
The internet exposes you to more of the world and its affairs than I have ordained, and because of this you lose your peace.
The path of peace is taken one step at a time, one moment at a time. Peace endures only as you follow Me -- even if I should put you before a Goliath, like David. Remember, David faced the giant because I sent him there. He stood in My strength--not his own. He stood grounded in the knowledge that he was a covenant man confronting an uncircumcised Philistine. David faced ONE Goliath in ONE field, on ONE day, at ONE time. It wasn't David's everyday experience. The internet opens you up to multiple 'Goliaths' all at once. None of them may be the 'Goliath' you are called to fight!
Another illustration came to my mind: I saw a man wringing his hands before a gigantic buffet. He mistakenly had the impression he was to eat everything that was being served! The end result -- a very sick, foolish man!
Are we making ourselves physically, emotionally, spiritually sick by feasting on bad news? Never, in the history of the world have we faced such a tsunami of information coming from every direction. It's too much! Perhaps we should follow this formula: Ten minutes in the Word for every ten seconds on the internet!
This is the time for the church to awaken and stand against the darkness. But, we have to be led by the Holy Spirit or we'll end up blindly swinging our swords in the darkness -- and no Goliath will fall.
"Do not fear what man can do to you -- but fear He who is able to destroy both should and body in hell" (Matt 10:28).
"Do not fear them for the Lord is the one fighting for you" (Deut.3:22).
"When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul" (Psalm 94:19).
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