Lord you know that I am newly appointed to this position. Another candidate for the position remains in the organization and must report to me. Help me to ascertain whether we can work together. I am sure this person is disappointed in not being chosen. I do not wish to be defensive but rather empathetic; yet without losing the decisiveness that my role demands. This person is long-tenured in this organization and is well regarded. I am new, from the outside. I was chosen to seek a new path. Can I do that with someone who represents the old path and is beloved by those who do not wish to change?
When the time is right, help me to have a good conversation with this colleague. Can I speak with this person honestly without making them defensive or guarded? I would like to lay this issue right on the table and have a good discussion. Can I ask them how they are feeling about it?
In the past when I have taken over when someone else has been bypassed, I have said, “What can we do at the appropriate time?” I know there can be backlash from those who like them. May I think this through, with Your help, to cause the least amount of collateral damage and clear the path forward.
I promise if it comes to parting ways, I will try to do it as respectfully as I can.
Section 2, Scripture: Proverbs 22:1-11; MT 7:1-28
| Hebrew Scripture | New Testament |
| 1 A good name is more desirable than great riches, and high esteem, than gold and silver.
2 Rich and poor have a common bond: the LORD is the maker of them all. 3 The shrewd man perceives evil and hides, while simpletons continue on and suffer the penalty. 4 The reward of humility and fear of the LORD is riches, honor and life. 5 Thorns and snares are on the path of the crooked; he who would safeguard his life will shun them. 6 Train a boy in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not swerve from it. 7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. 8 He who sows iniquity reaps calamity, and the rod destroys his labors. 9 The kindly man will be blessed, for he gives of his sustenance to the poor. 10 Expel the arrogant man and discord goes out; strife and insult cease. 11 The LORD loves the pure of heart; the man of winning speech has the king for his friend. Proverbs 22:1-11
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Judging Others.1 “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. 2 For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. 3 Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye?5You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.
Pearls Before Swine. 6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs,* or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces. The Answer to Prayers. 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, 10 or a snake when he asks for a fish?11If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. The Golden Rule.12 “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets. The Narrow Gate.13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. 14 How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few. False Prophets. 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.20So by their fruits you will know them. The True Disciple. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’ The Two Foundations. 24 “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 26 And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” 28 When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,29 for he taught them as one having authority Matthew 7:1-28 |
Section 3
You may wish to be silent for a few minutes.
Section 4
Offer prayer in your own words speaking to God who is for us, with us and in us.