Heed: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

                        

                        Heed

                        Do not make assumptions,

he proclaims,

based on outward circumstances;

heed the time

be prepared for surprise

designated for here and now

too often dismiss unusual

too judgmental of others

too controlling for changes

and miss Spirit’s whispered

announcement

                        amazement

                        this new morning.

Reflection: Assumptions: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Walk though one ordinary day this week and try to track how many ‘assumptions’ you find yourself making.

2.     How many were clearly obvious and how many were based more on your personal outlook?

3.     Do you recognize a particular bias? For example, I have an immediate reaction against any one being rude even if I’m not personally involved.

4.     How do you cope with your built in bias without it making you fume all day?

Share:  How can you bring the Lord into the situation?

Assumptions: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2:15

“Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.”

Unfortunately in many of our large cities today this would be considered ordinary and not a false assumption. If, in fact, we do happen to see something out of the ordinary, we often assume aberrant behavior or perhaps an advertising gimmick.

I am finding that the older I get the more I make quick surface judgments, and some are too close to labeling. We tend to categorize people and places as if by map districts and leave no room for the unexpected. We’re too busy to process, too set on our own agendas.

Unless we can stop and pause, and look at the interruption or confusion prayerfully looking for guidance beyond our knee-jerk reactions. Take time at the end of the day to pause and ponder what we saw and heard and reacted to. Then listen quietly for a few moments to see if the Lord has a word, or an encouragement, or a reminder, or a task He wants us to see and consider and act upon.

In His grace and power, Jesus works in kairos time—a place of hope and healing and new perspectives. Lord, help us to each recognize when we are to stop and pay attention and not just make false assumptions based on our own limited reality. Give us Your light to distinguish the true from the false without any form of prejudice.

Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:15

“’and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.’ And it was so.”