A few years ago, I made the decision to monitor and journal the number of calories I was eating each day. It was an arduous task and was eye-opening as I was traveling and trying to find something to eat. I stopped at one restaurant that was affordable and the food was really good. As I went to order, I looked at the nutrition information provided on the menu board and I was discouraged to discover the normal meal I ordered was equal to nearly one day’s allowable calories for the regimen I was following. I admit I gave myself a mulligan and placed my order.
As I was considering my experience recently, I was convicted about my daily intake of information into my mind. I realized too much of my day is the consumption of high-stress news reports, crisis management, and social media posts ranging from vacation pictures to political battles and name-calling. As I continued my audit, there was a clear correlation between an increase in my electronic consumption of information and a decrease of reading for enjoyment and studying the Scriptures. The ease of clicking the social media app on my phone or the ease of jumping to a news agency on my web browser while sitting at my desk, created a less than desirable result in my daily life.
In Romans 12:2, Paul writes, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (NLT). The way we think is affected with the content and focus of our attention. When we are focused on the things of this world, we become bloated with negativity, uncertainty, and anxiety. When we focus on the things of God, He transforms the way we think. The negativity is changed to a perspective of positivity as we know we are not alone in the battles of our lives. Our anxiety is set aside as we are reminded of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:33-34 NLT). We find confidence amid our uncertainty as we “learn to know God’s will for you, which is good pleasing and perfect.”
Just as counting calories spotlights where too much junk food and calories are causing unhealthy physical issues, considering what is going into our mind helps us to see where we are following the pattern of this world—creating unnecessary stress and discouragement. How can we become more intentional to invest our day in thinking on heavenly things? What would we discover if we did an audit of the information we are consuming each day? Do we desire the transforming power of God to be at work in our lives?
Prayer: Lord, I confess I binge consume too much of this world’s pattern and information. Forgive me and focus my attention on you. Give me the confidence of your will for my life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.