"News"

One day I simply realized,

Something gave me such surprise,

It was a wonder in my eyes,

I forgot to watch the news.

And not for just a day or two,

But ‘bout a week that I'd been through,

I was not sad, not one bit blue,

What did I really lose?

I lost the anger that I hear,

I lost the stress and all the fear,

Defensiveness ‘bout what is dear,

Relief reigned in my mind.

Guess this fast was overdue,

At least a diet week or two,

To drop the weight of headline new,

Did I fall far behind?

I turned it on with point and click,

And there it was, all shiny, slick,

I started feelin’ somewhat sick,

‘Cause this is what I knew,

I missed a whole week of that stuff,

And lots of it was really rough,

But did it matter, not enough,

I finally got a clue. And this is what is true,

That what the world all talks about,

And what’s important, has the clout,

Does not give life, it is left out,

And that is what we need.

We do not live by bread alone,

But rather by the Word He’s shown,

It’s God’s good news, we’ve always known,

We listen for His lead.

“…we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deut. 8:3, NLT)

Jesus quoted this scripture when tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread. The underlying point is life-changing. How do we live? By finding ways to satisfy all our appetites and desires? Moses said no, and Jesus quoted him. No, that’s not how we live. How, then? By hearing and obeying what the Lord says. It’s what He has said in His inspired word that helps us recognize and follow what He’s saying to us, personally and individually. And make no mistake about it. He is talking to us in countless ways: through the created order, people, circumstances, music, the Bible, our conscience, and the still, small voice in our hearts. His words give life and define for us what matters. And if His words are unheard because the voices of this world have become too loud, it’s time to turn them off.

Lord, help us live by Your words, and not what the world says, in Jesus’ name.

Photo by Kirstie Lambert, used by permission. Thanks, Kirstie, and God bless you.