It never fails to inspire me how many people have found my devotional book Daily Prayer (and its sequel Daily Prayer 2) to be of encouragement, help and inspiration. The number of letters and messages I’ve received thanking me for these is truly humbling, and they inspire me, in turn, in my continued writing. Here’s a session from Daily Prayer that I hope may speak to you.
Closed minds
Read
He came to his native village and taught in the synagogue there in a manner that left all who heard him amazed, asking, ‘From where did this man acquire such wisdom and the ability to perform such deeds of power? Surely, this is the carpenter’s son? Isn’t Mary his mother, and aren’t James, Joseph, Simon and Judas his brothers? And don’t his sisters live here among us? Where then did this man get these abilities?’ And they took exception to him. But Jesus responded, ‘A prophet is not without esteem, except among those of their own country or household.’ And, due to their unbelief, his powerful deeds were few there. Matthew 13:54-58
Ponder
Open-mindedness isn’t always the quality it’s cracked up to be. The way we use the term today, it is synonymous with an attitude of anything goes; anyone who dares to suggest that there are moral and ethical frontiers beyond which we should not venture being dismissed as bigoted, blinkered and out of touch with reality. The truth is, of course, that those who reason like this are themselves as narrow-minded as anyone, their minds steadfastly closed to the possibility that there could be limits to human freedom.
Open-mindedness doesn’t necessarily mean that we accept everything; simply that we are ready to give a fair hearing to another’s point of view, amenable to the possibility that we may need to reconsider our opinions in the light of their experience. If we are to grow in faith and mature as individuals, we all need to cultivate that quality. Those who think they have been given all they need to know and who refuse to have their horizons stretched may well find themselves in the position of the people of Nazareth, turning their backs on the truth when it was there before them.
Ask yourself
Where are your blind spots – those areas where you are closed to new ideas and insights?
Pray
Gracious God, you speak to me in all kinds of ways, through all kinds of people – forgive me that I am sometimes closed to what you have to say. I avoid that which challenges, disturbs or unsettles me, preferring to criticise and condemn rather than face the issues raised. Forgive me that I shut my ears to what I don’t agree with, rather than listen to another point of view; that I am reluctant to accept new and unfamiliar ideas, taking refuge instead in what is tried and trusted. Forgive me that I can become so bogged down in what I think is right, so sure of my own convictions and set in my ways that I resent anything new. Open my heart to the living reality of Christ, my mind to the sweeping breath of your Holy Spirit, and my soul to all that you would do and say, and so help me truly to live as one of your people, in the name of Christ. Amen.
Remember
Judge nothing prematurely, before the Lord returns, for he will shed light on those things hidden in darkness and reveal the innermost thoughts of people’s hearts. 1 Corinthians 4:5
Close
God of all, break through the barriers that shut my mind fast, and help me to see things both as they really are and as you can help them become. Move within me, in the name of Christ. Amen.