I spend very little time watching television (unless Duck Dynasty is on). I limit my consumption of most forms of ‘news’ media as I would limit my eating fast food. It seems that the world is in perpetual flux and if we can’t watch a crisis, we turn the channel until find one. If there is no television to be found, we simply reach for our smart phone or tablet in order to feed on crisis. We are actually at war within our own minds.
Spirit of Fear
I fall victim to anxiety and fear at times. I spent the last several weeks monitoring my overall mindset. I decided to look for triggers that cause anxiety and fear. I found that it is very easy for me to get sucked into ‘crisis media’. The imagery, drama, emotion and intrigue entice me into watching crisis. When I snap out of this hypnotic state, I find that the spirit of fear has crept into my mind. From my conversations with friends and family, the spirit of fear has infected many. The general tone in our society has become one of unhealthy fear. Hope is a weapon…
Hope is a Weapon
The antidote to the infection is Hope with a Big ‘H’. There is a huge difference between the modern meaning of hope (with a little ‘h’) and ancient Greek and Hebrew meaning of Hope. We’ve managed to lose sight of the true meaning of Hope and replaced it with a substandard generic brand of hope that is based on feeling and desires that something may turn out for the best. Hope has been robbed of its power and has been rendered useless in the battle against the spirit of fear. To the ancient Greeks and Hebrews, Hope was a ‘strong and confident expectation’. Hope was active and had the unseen qualities of trust.
Experiment: Learning to Use Hope
Try this SIMPLE experiment. You can skip Step 1 if you already find yourself anxious, pessimistic, negative or fearful to some degree.
1. Watch TV or go online and watch any of the major news channels for 15-30 minutes. Note the effects on your overall mindset, attitude, etc.
2. Next, take a few moments to watch this video of Nick Vujicic. Note the effects and share, if you like.
What happened? What changed?