“What I meditate on will shape my entire outlook on life.”
Good news rarely makes the headlines. We are inundated 24/7 with the horrible things happening all over the world. It’s on our phones, computers, and televisions. The world is falling apart. I have gotten to the place where I rarely watch the news. I can’t do anything about it and what goes into my mind is what I will meditate on. What I meditate on will shape my entire outlook on life.
Therefore, I choose to meditate on what will feed my mind and my soul. I am not discouraged about our world or in a bad mood about what is happening all around me. I have absolutely no panic. There is one reason.
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed in this scripture actually translates “happy.” Happy gets a bad rap. Christians often say “happy” depends on circumstances and they are not happy, they have “joy.” This scripture disagrees with that statement. Psalm 1 makes clear that we are not at home among the wicked. We don’t think like they think, and we don’t look at the world as they do. We look at the world around us and turn our hearts to the God who made it. As we delight in His law and meditate on His Word, we know there is no contest. God is the clear winner.
“God is moving all around us in powerful ways and He invites each of us to be a part of what He is doing. He is not stopped by bad things. He plows straight through all the bad things and uses them for His ultimate purpose to be done in the world.”
When I open my Bible every single day of my life (big reason that I am happy), I see what is really happening. It is not doomsday. We are living in the “year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:19).We are living at the greatest time in the history of the world to share the good news of Jesus Christ. We can send messages across the world with a click of a button. God is moving all around us in powerful ways and He invites each of us to be a part of what He is doing. He is not stopped by bad things. He plows straight through all the bad things and uses them for His ultimate purpose to be done in the world. Jesus told us there would be tribulation in this world.
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
“What we trust in is what we will focus on.”
In Jesus, we have total peace and confidence. In the world, there is much tribulation and trouble. Jesus said something that sounds absolutely crazy in the world we live in today. He said to be “of good cheer.” Without apology He plainly said although the world looks bad, He is the boss… period. We are on the winning side. He has defeated every foe. We are walking, standing and sitting with Him. How silly when we jump on the political bandwagon and post all kinds of stuff as if the government can save us. Christians, we are saved! What we trust in is what we will focus on.
Although “Be of good cheer” is a phrase in the English language it is actually an amazing Greek word. It means to radiate warm confidence (exude “social boldness”) because we are warm-hearted. God’s people listen! We are to exude confidence boldly with a warm heart. Why is it rare to see this lived out among the people who call themselves Christians? We were warned by Jesus Himself about these days, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12).
“He meant for us to be filled with courage in these dark days, not shaking with fear.”
We are free to fill their minds with the things happening all around us, or we can choose to fill our minds with truth. The truth is that every word written in scripture must be fulfilled. Jesus gave us the book of Revelation to inspire us and let us know every single second is ticking on God’s timeline perfectly. He also made it clear that the devil is angry because his time is short. He meant for us to be filled with courage in these dark days, not shaking with fear. He meant for us to have the answers because they are written down thousands of years ago in His Word.
“Jesus put His Holy Spirit inside of us and He is never discouraged or worried. He is at perfect peace and He longs to give us His peace 24/7.”
We should be more confident right at this moment than we have ever been. The world is looking for answers and we have them. What is this world coming to? It’s coming to an end. Jesus put His Holy Spirit inside of us and He is never discouraged or worried. He is at perfect peace and He longs to give us His peace 24/7. If we don’t live in peace, something is wrong. I don’t say that to shame anyone but to drive us to our birthright.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
“Jesus has left HIS PEACE in our hearts so we don’t have to be troubled or afraid.”
That statement is eternal. Time and circumstances can’t change what is written. My peace can be shattered. Jesus’ peace is as sure as God’s throne. This world has no peace for us. Jesus has left HIS PEACE in our hearts so we don’t have to be troubled or afraid.
“We serve a God who is in complete control of everything.”
Either He was crazy or His words are true. There is no middle ground. Jesus knew everything that was going to happen until the end of the world and He made that statement. Child of God, are you cowering in a corner full of fear? You are lying to a lost and dying world about who you are and who you serve. We serve a God who is in complete control of everything. We want to equate “in control” with “always good.”
“He came down here and conquered the only thing we truly have to fear… death, hell and the grave.”
Jesus made it plain that the world is often a horrible place and will get increasingly worse. Why are we surprised? He came down here and conquered the only thing we truly have to fear… death, hell and the grave. He did the unthinkable by giving us the Holy Spirit to live in us and equip us with everything we need.
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
2 Peter 1:3
“When our minds are in tune with our Creator, our hearts are aflame with His love and His confidence.”
Now, all we need to do is get up and shine because we know these things to be true. We delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it day and night. When our minds are in tune with our Creator, our hearts are aflame with His love and His confidence.
This time in history shouldn’t scare us, it should motivate us. Jesus plainly listed all kinds of terrible things that would take place and He didn’t say, “hunker down and bear it.” He boldly said, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28).
“He wants us to stand strong, lift our heads high and walk through this world with breathless anticipation that we will see Jesus coming soon.”
He said the polar opposite. He wants us to stand strong, lift our heads high and walk through this world with breathless anticipation that we will see Jesus coming soon. We are His ambassadors. We should be representing Him well during this time, not joining in with the culture. This world is dying, our world is eternal. Start living like it!
