You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it. I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors. But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.

Galatians 1:13-17

Dear God, this is the passage for Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest today, but it also really fits with today’s blog from Fred Smith. Since there seems to be a consistency of message here, I’m wondering if you don’t have something for me to see about breaking away from my own paradigms and seeing your reality instead of my own.

In this particular passage, Paul describes how you basically have him no choice but to break away from the religion of presuppositions of his childhood and see who you really are and what you are doing. So that brings me to the question of what errant paradigms and lenses do I use when I filter the world around me into my mind? Do I allow whether a politician has an R or a D next to their name influence how I hear what they are saying or evaluate what they are doing? Do I prejudge people regularly based on their appearance? Do I reject some good ideas because I deem them too risky or unconventional? The list could go on and on.

Father, help me to simply see what you see. Help me to interpret the world around me with your filters and not my own. Help me to do what you need me to do in any given situation, regardless of my own “wisdom.” Make my life count for your glory and the peace of others.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen