Filters

Here’s a question for you. What are the filters in your life? The things you put between the real you and the rest of the world. For example, your appearance. Have you ever used an app to look better in photos?

How about filters that affect the way you act and think. Do you screen your thoughts by what your friends and peers do and say?

Filters can also be a fantasy that isn’t as difficult, boring… (fill in the blank) as your real life. Binging on entertainment or blocking out the rest of the world to play hours and days of a video game wasn’t even possible until the last couple of decades.

Drugs and alcohol – even energy drinks – take the edge off, or add an edge. Whatever happened to being present and living an authentic life – making use of time instead of just killing it?

Think about it. Did you choose your filters, or did something else over time?

We don’t often realize that filters are everywhere, like an unseen web. Other people – and businesses – also use them to influence you!

• On social media, people show their best hair day ever, or a picture with friends and family you wish you had, or their vacation highlight reel that sends a message they always have a better life than you? Do they? 

•    Marketing messages for fashion and beauty products promise if you only bought and used them, you’d be more beautiful or younger or sexier. Did they keep their promise? Did you finally become a runway model? I know I didn’t!

•   Luxury products that are beyond our reach like cars, boats, jewelry, vacations, and bigger and better homes tease us and depress us by saying if we only had more money, our life would be everything it’s not. Is it true we’ll live a sad and unfulfilled life with less?

• The news media selectively publishes controversial hot takes over and over again – to increase their ratings and sell more commercials – leaving us depressed about horrible events and disgusted by people who commit unspeakable acts against humanity. Yes, those things exist and sadly always have. However, a constant feed of this information leads to depression and feeling there is nothing good in the world anymore. That’s a lie.

If you feel manipulated, you’re right! These lies undeniably cause problems in our lives and in others when we believe them – and we make up our culture. Instead, we can remove the filters and open our eyes to see what’s really going on. If we change ourselves first, we can help others change. When others change, it can change the world.

In the Bible, Ephesians 5:22-23 (NIV) says this:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

If we use this filter to measure what’s going on today, we see a clear contrast and a much better way to live and care for each other. Every day it’s possible – starting with our own decision and God’s help. His Word is filled with timeless wisdom and truth. The ultimate filter to use to live your best life. 

For real.

RESET HIGHER: Changing filters is something we need to do anytime they block what’s healthy and best. What filters do you need to replace?