March 1, 2026

What is your news doing to you?

Sometimes, the Bible is deeply nuanced… other times, God puts the options before us in black and white:

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” 
Romans 12:1–2 (ESV)

Paul says that there are two paths of formation: being formed by the world into something that mimics the world’s pattern or being formed by the Spirit into something new that knows and pleases God. There is no neutral option.

So, which way is your news forming you? Are your news habits making you fearful or faithful? Combative or curious? Contemptuous or compassionate? Paralyzed or purposeful? 

If your news is forming you in the wrong direction, the problem may not be quantity alone. It may be an issue of quality. 

If you spend just five minutes every day listening to the news, but you choose a toxic source… the fruit will not be the Spirit’s. That means we need to set boundaries around how much news we’re consuming and also what kind. 

Here are some characteristics of toxic, worldly news that will grow the wrong kind of fruit in you:

News that makes us anxious, arrogant, angry, or apathetic is conforming us to the pattern of the world… but renewal is waiting for us on the other side of presenting ourselves to God for His transforming work. The Spirit’s fruit will grow in an area protected by a good fence and rich with good soil. As a news consumer, that means low quantity and high quality. 

Questions for Reflection: 
What worldly patterns do you detect in your habits of news consumption?

What toxic sources have become part of your news diet? What effect are they having on you?

How have you seen the Spirit working to transform your news habits? What next step can you take?

Let’s present ourselves to the Lord, asking Him to do His transforming, renewing work in us:
Merciful God,
We confess that we are so easily pressed into a worldly mold, 
responding to the headlines with anger and anxiety, arrogance and apathy.
Forgive us for the ways we’ve taken on the world’s scent of decay:
caught up in fruitless debates, 
puffed up with knowledge, speaking harshly,
envying the prosperity of the wicked.
We have been faithless and fearful,
desensitized and detached—
grieving the state of the world as if we have no eternal hope.

But Your transformation of Your children 
into Christ’s glorious image is the hope of the world.
We present ourselves to You, trusting You to do Your good work in us. 

Renew our minds so that we can walk in good paths, 
pleasing You as we engage with the news of this world.
Equip us to be effective ambassadors for Christ,
bringing His aroma to our temporary places of exile.
Make us wise servants of our cities,
seeking the good of our neighbors in the outposts where You’ve placed us. 

Thank you for the permanent, unchanging good news 
in the face of hard headlines for those who are in Christ:
Your presence within us and around us, shedding light in darkness,
Your power to overcome evil in our hearts and in our world,
and Your promise of full, eternal life in Jesus,
in whom we pray. 
Amen.

Your homework this week is to audit the sources from which you get your news. On a scale of one to ten (0 is abysmal, 10 is terrific), rank them in these areas:

Add up each source’s scores. If any sources score below 20 overall, cut them out of your news diet this week, and pay attention to how the fast affects you.