Befriend the Mute Button
August 9, 2022
It doesn’t matter what the rest of the world is thinking, planning, saying, or doing. What matters to me, as a Christian, is what God is thinking, planning, saying, or doing. The Bible says this about God’s way of thinking in Isaiah 55:8-9:
8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. (AMPC)
God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours, and the best place to find out what God’s thoughts and ways are is to look at the words of Jesus recorded in the four Gospels. Trust what you read there, not what others say!
The campaign season is particularly troubling to me. It really bothers my spirit to hear the gloom and doom that is spewed out from TV ads and news channels. The news is not real facts anymore. It has devolved into a forum for sharing the opinions of people, people who don’t know God. Even with people who say they know God, their actions often reveal something else.
I know God does not want me or you to be fearful or troubled. He wants us to go higher and trust Him. John 14:1 says:
Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me. (AMPC)
Knowing how sensitive I am to the media sources that spread fear, I am promising myself to mute all political campaign ads on TV this fall, both the Democratic ads and the Republican ads. My plan is to MUTE THEM ALL! Television ads are never a reliable source of truth. As a Christian, I should always be pursuing truth regardless of my party affiliation. Seeking the truth does not just mean actively pursuing the truth, but it also means actively blocking out things that are not truth or do not lead to the truth of God as found in the Bible.
You see, no matter what is going on in the world around us, as a Christian, I must work to maintain my joy and peace. The reason for this is big and weighty. My ability to witness to others depends on the condition of my heart and what people see in me. If I am troubled and speak words that are not kind, truthful, and loving to all my neighbors, no one is going to want to know the Jesus I profess to know. I must maintain my joy and peace, no matter what is going on around me. Here is what Philippians 4:5-7 tells us:
5 Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is coming soon]. 6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (AMPC)
If I can keep my peace and joy throughout this midterm election campaign season, others are bound to notice. Philippians 4:8-9 even tells us how to win this mind battle for peace and joy.
8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. 9 Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me (Apostle Paul), and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you. (AMPC)
The mute button is going to be my friend this fall. I am going to mute the TV and concentrate on loving and serving Jesus and my neighbor (regardless of his or her political party). I encourage you to make the mute button your friend, too!
Father, your precious Son, Jesus said this to those of us who follow Him. Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (John 14:27 AMPC). In the name of Jesus, I stop allowing my heart to be agitated and disturbed. I do not permit myself to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled. I believe what Jesus said is true. So, I turn over to You my troubled heart and I seek the peace that You already gave me through Jesus. Remind me as I see or hear things that bring up fear that You are at my side in everything. Your Word says: He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord (Psalm 112:7 AMPC). Father, as I focus on Your promises I read in the Bible, pour out Your Spirit on me and give me the courage I need today and every day. I love you, Father. Amen.