It’s 4:30 am Tuesday morning, I rise and fill three cats’ bowls (yes, three, stop judging) with food and refresh three water bowls. Then, I check emails, unanswered texts or calls before browsing social media often as an engaged lurker. I’m waiting on my wife to awaken and join me to read scripture, pray, and discuss.

I read the verse, “‘For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit’
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV.”

Our pastor’s voice I hear, “Don’t forget to preach the Gospel to yourself.” (Don’t worry. I don’t have him tied up inside a closet. It’s just my imagination.)

Earlier while browsing social media and checking my emails, I became aware of others hypocrisy, judgmental behaviors, gullibility and made my typical “enlightened” comments.

“We both” in the verse, meaning Jews and Gentiles in context, causes me to recall Pastor Jeff’s words.

“Dear gracious God, forgive me for forgetting my capacity for hypocrisy, judgmental behavior, and gullibility and how you give me grace when I fail at speaking truth in love and humility. Amen,” I pray. “Help me to put on the armor of God to defend against the darkness that attacks me with divisiveness, ignorance, pride, judgment. Let my responses be clothed in the fruit of the Spirit or not at all.”

I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change

I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Glen Ballard / Siedah Garrett

Man in the Mirror lyrics © Universal Music Corp., Yellowbrick Road Music, Arlovol Music, In The Mirror Music Publishing

Categories: Author Confession

Tagged as: character development dailyprompt dailyprompt-2070 inspirational Prayer Self-righteous soul searching Sprituality

Douglas Knight

I have the rich life full of a sinner wounded by misunderstanding and punishment but blessed by mercy and forgiveness.