Psalm 46 gives us 3 standing headlines that we can use to keep today’s news stories in proper perspective.
About standing headlines, Virginia Butterfield, of San Diego Magazine, writes a comprehensive background…
Standing Headlines
BY VIRGINIA BUTTERFIELD
Published: 2007.06.29 06:49 PM
In the publishing business, newspapers and magazines have what are called “standing headlines.” The concept started decades ago, when printers used molten lead to make type. Newspapers created standing heads for their columnists, stock tables and regular categories of coverage, such as obituaries, society balls and sports scores. Once created, the theory went, the heads could be used forever, lowering the cost of production. This also made it easier to design the page and drop in type…http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/May-1998/Standing-Headlines/
The Lord has provided some standing headlines we can memorize for quick and easy mental self defense against fear:
#1: – Nations are in uproar!
#2 – Kingdoms Fall!
#3 – He lifts his voice, the earth melts!
You could say these things about the human condition on any day from the time of Nimrod, to the news alerts of today. Nations are always in uproar, kingdoms always fall; God lifts His voice, the earth melts, or tsunamis strike, earthquakes devastate, volcanoes erupt.
What if Hillary wins? What if Trump wins, and then betrays us? What happens if the Yellowstone super volcano erupts? What happens if Iran nukes us? What happens if ISIS launches a huge attack on soft targets in America while our president is supporting them instead of us? You know the familiar pattern of worry.
We live with a false expectation of our nation’s or its politics having long lasting stability. In fact, the things of this earth and the affairs of humanity are in a constant state of change.
God’s Remedy, Psalm 46
(memorize it, meditate on it)
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.There is a river whose streams
make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
HE lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.– Psalm 46
That psalm is a clear declaration that the Lord’s people can and should live with a different set of expectations than those who are not his people. When it says “Be still, and know…” one translation from the ancient Hebrew text means, “Let go, and know.” So we are to let go of our white-knuckled grip, and relax in faith that our Lord is in control, and that He is an ever present help, right inside of our crisis.
Let’s look at it this way. When the idiotic things happening in the world start weighing too heavily, we need to step aside and see it differently.
The world freaks out over cataclysms like tsunamis. But we can focus on a different water source than the raging sea. If we are followers of Jesus Christ, then we are the City of God, and a river of the water of life runs right through us, refreshing, healing, and strengthening the holy place where the Most High dwells, (that would be us).
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
So to sum up the Lord’s message to us when the news gets to be too much, let’s see Him telling us…
Chillax!
I’ve got this.
♞ PS: I’m preaching to myself, too
