I have a usual routine from Monday to Friday: I take my two boys to school, come back home and have a quick breakfast while watching the news on television, and then I go straight to my prayer time. I do this like clockwork. But today I cut off something in the routine. I did everything up to the opening of the tv. But then all I was watching was bad news! A car accident, people disobeying traffic rules, a priest that was killed, corrupt politicians, etc., etc., etc. I wasn’t personally affected by all the bad news, it was just all bad news, and it was not doing any good to me at all! So, I decided to skip the news part of my routine and go straight to my prayer time, where I knew I would get something good.
I was reminded of how important it is to start the day with the right things entering our hearts and minds. Paul wrote to the Philippians about having peace in their hearts, and reminded them:
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
True, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, anything excellent or praiseworthy – these are the things we should be thinking about, the things that fill our minds and heart. Where do we go, or how can we begin the day, making sure that these things are what fill our minds? Media? Well, once in a while we do get some of these things on television or in the newspapers. But if we want all of the above, there is only one place – one person actually – where we can get this from: The Lord and His Word.
What a blessing it is to begin the day, and end it, with the Lord and His Word filling our minds and hearts. It’s the best way for us to deal with the “bad news” that this world throws at us each day. We never know what we’re going to face, or what kind of day we’re going to have. But if we begin and end with the Lord we have a hope, and a faithfulness, to hang on to, no matter what.
Psa 92:1 It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High,
Psa 92:2 to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,
