Stop Assuming

I learned in nursing school never to assume but to get the facts; I learned it again in seminary and, also, multiple times in daily life. So.  This is my confession, I still assume, even though I know it's better not to.  It happened yesterday.  I assumed our office alarm had been turned off since someone had arrived before I did. The alarm had not been turned off.  Police officers, who are friends of mine, responded right before church services began. Let's just say it will take awhile for the "mocking" to end.

Got it.  Check.  No more assuming.

In the end, assuming something can be destructive, especially during difficult times of life.  When we assume things won't change, when we assume we are stuck, when we assume we are at a dead-end, we miss out on what God has planned for us.

To assume is a lack of focus, to fail to see through faith, to let something go which is ours to do because we can't see a way to do it, disengaging from life.

The writings of Jeremiah (Old Testament) clearly delineates the people's assumption of defeat when they were overpowered by the Babylonians, taken into captivity, oppressed and enslaved.  But.  Jeremiah pushed back on them, making it clear that hard times should not define people of faith, calling them out for assuming there was no way out of slavery, for not seeking what God had planned, for living like victims.
Consider.  

This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again (Jeremiah 29:10, NLT).  

God said He would release the people from oppression, would bring them out of captivity, and would do all the good things He had promised to do. The thing is  . . . the people needed to take action . . .  to press into God, to believe He would do what had been promised, and to take responsibility for living a life of faith.  But.  There were those then, and those now, who will let circumstances overpower them, assuming what is will always be.

It may seem safe to assume what is will always be; yet, when we invite God in, when we see life through faith, nothing and no one can overpower us.

Stop assuming.  Focus on God.  Believe God will do all the good things He has promised.

Learning to Kickstart the day focused on God rather than assuming,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)