Pay Attention to Your Heart

Have you ever followed a heated discussion on social media? Have you engaged in a back-and-forth with someone in the comments? Perhaps you were the subject of a hurtful post, and that wound still hasn't healed. When we get into a verbal exchange, the statements often occupy our minds for weeks or even years afterward. Days later, we still think of how we could have argued better, or situations in daily life remind us of the hurtful claims and instantly ruin our moods.

God believes that we should guard and protect our hearts from negative influences (Proverbs 4:23), and Paul, in his letter to the Christians in Philippi, wrote that they should focus on "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right" (Philippians 4:8-9). Maybe, as you read the last lines, a person, fan page, or news magazine comes to mind, and you realize that the posts or news you read don't do you any good.

Posts or newsfeeds don't have to be overtly hateful to harden our hearts. It's enough if they occasionally contain a hint of condescension or arrogance, implying repeatedly that the people they write about are foolish or incapable. Politicians or other public figures are questioned critically, but behind this criticism, we often forget that harsh words hurt people in the spotlight of public attention. How can we criticize a person on the issue without simultaneously denying their worth?

How do we manage to keep the greatest commandment that Jesus gave us to love one another as Jesus loves us (John 15:12)? It's helpful to no longer give such comments influence in our lives. For example, you can stop following a person who often speaks cynically about other people, or you could weed out a fan page you've noticed whose only goal is toxic interactions.

Next Step: Ask God to show you which topics, people, or pages don't do you any good. Who came to mind first when reading the devotion? Perhaps it's time today to keep certain digital content away from your heart.