New Years Resolution

Not until we have become humble and teachable, standing in awe of God’s holiness and sovereignty… acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine wisdom become ours.                —James Packer

I have come to a realization over the last week, and from that realization God had delivered the gift of recognizing what my New Years resolution should be.

This has been months in the making.  It started with all the campaigning that was going on prior to our presidential election.  The more bombarded I got, the less I liked myself.  I would say things that I later regretted.  I became this person I hardly recognized.  And what I realized was, I had continued to let fear whether it be founded or not, to regulate my thinking.

As a Christian, I believe fear is the work of Satan.  If I have complete trust and faith in God, then what place does fear have in my life?  Fear should be given very little quarter in any Christian’s life.  It is a human emotion, and therefore I don’t know that it can be eliminated completely.  But giving in to it in a way that rules my behavior, my actions, my words should have no place whatsoever in my day to day living.  Indeed, these are the very times I should be seeking prayer.

I realized yesterday that the news media has a big role in keeping my fear high.  Even though I know that true journalism no longer exists in our society, and all journalism to some degree are opinion pieces, I somewhere lost the ability to keep that in the front of my brain while reading them.   In my humble opinion, journalism has devolved to be one step above those propaganda radio shows that were run during Vietnam, and as such, I need to stop reading them.

I do believe in being informed, but not at the expense of my own soul and mental health.  Therefore, I am swearing off all political articles or news reports having to do with politics.  I will no longer respond to political posts unless by some miracle I can see both sides of the argument and can comment without bias, and I will not be posting any more thoughts on politics, the state of our country or anything that has to do with the highly charged issues of congress and the senate.  I’m handing the wheel to God, and I’m going to let him drive for awhile, because my soul needs soothing, and I need to gain perspective, and leave my fear behind.  I hope to make this a lasting change, because like an alcoholic, I’m not sure I can ever have “just a little.”

Isaiah 41:10  fear not, for I am with you;  be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Thank you dear readers, for listening.