Stay Focused

Written on 02/28/2021
Rabih Sabra

1

The world is angry. Over the past several decades, we have been conditioned to harbor anger and ultimately, hatred. Spend a minute or two on Facebook, and you’ll see what I am talking about. TV news programs bring anger into your home; they’re like a personal anger spout. From all sides, media outlets are gushing with news that will make you angry.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we need to stay focused on God and His mission. God has us here for a reason, and the world needs us to provide direction and to point people to God. While there are dozens of verses that address anger, Ephesians 4:26-27 is a good one to meditate on, “And don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.”

An article on reallifecounseling.us says we experience anger in stages. First we get annoyed, then frustrated, and if we don’t control it we may become hostile. Our hostility can become so intense that it develops into rage, at which point we lose control of our reasoning.

When we allow our anger to develop into hostility and rage, we are in sin. We need to get rid of our anger before we turn hostile. Otherwise, we may lose control of ourselves and do or say things that we later regret.

But even when we manage to avoid becoming outwardly hostile, it is important to stop being annoyed or frustrated, because these can prevent us from coming into God’s presence. To walk with God, we must guard our heart, and let the peace of Jesus reign in our thoughts. Scripture exhorts us to humble ourselves and cast all our anxieties upon Him, because He cares for us.

We can counter the media’s effect on us by meditating on the Word of God. We can also turn OFF the anger spout in our homes. This means the TV, Facebook, and other news outlets. While we do need to know what is going on in the world, we don’t need a blow-by-blow spin from a media pundit. To stay focused on our mission, we must be very selective of what we allow into our hearts and minds.

Amid the changes and turmoil the world is going through, I pray that you will guard your hearts and minds with the Word of God and His presence.

Rabih Sabra