Oh, golly. What a source of anxiety it can be. More often than not, I find myself staying away from it as much as possible. We don't have cable or satellite, so avoiding news channels is easy. What's not easy, however, is avoiding the posts and forwards in social media. My newsfeed on Facebook has been full of reports about groups targeting Christians. Even my email inbox contained sad truths about the goings on of the world. It breaks my heart to know this is happening around the world. But more than that, if I'm totally honest, it scares me. Fear swells so easily in my heart at the mention of things going on in regions that may affect my Warrior.
But fear can't be the final word. Fear can't be the answer.
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control."
2 Timothy 1:7
As much as I want to hide in a closet, plug my ears, and ignore the global events of current times, I know I wasn't created for ignorance or avoidance.
I was created to fight. I was created to be a warrior.
Maybe my fight doesn't happen on a physical battlefield. Maybe there aren't tangible fire fights. But the battle around me is real. The battle for my heart, my mind has been waged. And if I don't participate in the battle, if I don't fight back, if I run and hide and cover my eyes and plug my ears, my life isn't the only one affected. Because how can I possibly support my Warrior spiritually if I'm so afraid, so consumed with the what-ifs that I stall and stammer and hit my hiding place rather than hit my knees?
And so I'm making an intentional choice--well, two choices, actually.
1. I will be informed.
Yes, I will limit the information I see and process; but I will not avoid it. Instead, I'll use it as a platform for prayers to take root, for faith to grow.
2. I will fight.
I will not cower. I will not let fear get the best of me. I will pray in faith, walk by faith.
How about you? Will you join me?
"Finally, my [sisters], be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefor take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Ephesians 6:10-13
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