Focus on the Lovely: Mindful Media Consumption

Lovely, Not Loud

Here’s a Verse for the Week that most of us have heard a hundred times, but maybe never actually tried: Philippians 4:8 (CSB)

“Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.”

Now, I’m not saying we should all move to a cabin and only read Chicken Soup for the Soul. Please no. But because this command seems impossible, we leave it untried. But we can choose what we dwell on. And that, I think, is one of the sneakier dangers of social media. Be honest: does your scrolling dwell on “these things,” or does it dwell on the digital equivalent of a car crash you can’t look away from?

I’ve been reading Proverbs before bed lately (great life choice, highly recommend, very calming but often convicting), and I ran into this one: Proverbs 17:4 (CSB)

“A wicked person listens to malicious talk; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.”

Now, I don’t consider myself an evildoer, though I’ve done plenty of evil-ish things. And I don’t think of myself as a liar, even though I’ve told my fair share of lies. Funny how good we are at editing our own résumés. And the verse gets less comfortable when you stop looking at the nouns (“wicked,” “liar”) and start looking at the verbs: listens to…, pays attention to…. So let me ask myself before I ask you:

• Do I listen to malicious talk online?
• Do I pay attention to destructive tongue online?

I’ve mentioned before that I love The Pour Over, a news email that aims to be politically neutral and Christ-first, which in 2026 may be akin to walking on water, but I’m glad that they try. Founder Jason Woodruff recently ranked four ways we consume news, and I thought it was worth passing along. See if you agree:

1. Written — Has a clear stopping point. Sources are usually linked, so you can actually check them.
2. Podcast — Also has an end point. Harder to fact-check, but great for going deep on a topic.
3. Social media — Algorithms reward sensational and entertaining over accurate and thorough. Sources? Rarely. An end? Never.
4. Cable — Has to fill 24 hours a day, so news gets blended with opinion and entertainment. Also nearly impossible to fact-check. Also never ends.

Here is something we can do. When can get our news from a source that at least try’s to be pure and true. World Magazine and The Pour Over come to mind. And we can let our online accounts know that we won’t be reading anything that is malicious or destructive.

What a simple way to honor God and reduce anxiety, by dwelling on what is lovely instead of what is loud. We can do this.

Be encouraged,

Dan