I have noticed that the more people have watched the news the more jaded, angry, troubled, and apathetic they have become.  Right now, people’s hearts are fearful and agitated.  As Christians, we must live better than that.  We must have a better way to handle the news.  Here are three suggestions on how to handle the news:

Live in peace – Jn 14:27 – “let not your heart be troubled.”  To be troubled is to be disturbed, agitated, or annoyed.  “Neither let it be afraid.”  To be afraid is to be scared, terrified.  You get to live in peace by obeying Phil 4:6-7.  In Prov 30:8, Agur asked the Lord to “remove far from me vanity and lies.”  If you get troubled by watching the news and then try to pray to get peace it won’t work.  You’re defeating your purpose by being careful for something before you pray.  Prov 24:15-16 says, “spoil not his resting place.”  Your home is supposed to be your resting place.  The late night news will spoil it for you.  Here’s what to do.  Turn off the news.  Follow 1 Tim 2:1-3 by praying for those in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  Ps 3:4-6, and then don’t be afraid.

Trust in the Lord – Prov 29:25 – whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.  Trust in the Lord rather than princes and men, Ps 118:8-9.  If you’re excited about a possible change in administrations or a possible continuation of an existing administration, then your trust is in princes, not in the Lord.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, Heb 13:8.  He doesn’t change.  You have to remember that the Lord is working his plan down here, as well.  Eventually, he is going to reign.  But before he does, the antichrist will reign.  His world-wide reign will be characterized by violence, deceit, lies, terror, murder, and fraud.  Things will be much, much worse than they are today.  So, get used to trusting the Lord when trouble is around you.  No matter how bad the news is around you, folks must trust the Lord, Ps 46:1-3.

Let your conversation be in heaven – Phil 3:20 – Phil 1:27-28.  There is so much talk among Christians, repeating what they have heard on the news, like the Athenians to whom Paul preached, Acts 17:21.  The news is all about this world.  They never talk about anything that concerns our future home.  Set your affection on things above, and not on things on the earth, Col 3:1-2.  Jesus didn’t pray for the world, Jn 17:9.  This present world is evil, Gal 1:4.  We, on the other hand, are a holy nation 1 Pet 2:9.  We lose our national identity in Christ, Gal 3:28.  So, quit looking around here.  Look up for Jesus’ return, Titus 2:13.

Conclusion: if you aren’t sure whether what you just heard will help you handle the news, I challenge you to turn off the news for three weeks. Pray until the peace of God keeps your heart and mind. Trust in the Lord and not in men. And behave like a saint and talk exclusively about heaven and things in heaven, like the words of God.  I believe that you will not be troubled or afraid, just like Jesus said in Jn 14:27.