Today’s scripture: Acts 10:9-33 (NRSV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Julie Benson):
Do you listen to the voices in your head? You know — the voices that appear out of nowhere and make conversation with you.
Sometimes the voices give words of comfort and encouragement: OK, so that didn’t go so well. It won’t help to sit and stew about it. Take a deep breath and move on. We’ll get it next time!
Sometimes the voices are grim or gruesome and I wonder where they came from: What if a burglar breaks into my home and not only steals my possessions, but kills my three cats, leaving them hanging in a horrific display?
Sometimes the voices say weird, non-sequitur statements like: Of all the families I could be born into, I got this one. Look at that fly crawling on the table. I could have ended up being a fly like that. . . or maybe a grasshopper. . . or maybe an ostrich!
And sometimes the voices direct me to move in ways that don’t always make sense: Travel this different route home today. . . Pay for the drive-thru order of the car behind you. . . Make conversation with this woman in line.
Both Peter and Cornelius listened to the voices they were hearing. These voices — some may call them God; others may call them angels or something else — prepared these men’s hearts and brought them together so that the Good News would be shared with a people previously declared unclean — that is, unworthy. What would have happened if either of these men ignored their inner voice?
Thought for the day: Don’t ignore those voices in your head. You may hear something profound!
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.