Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Impulsivity

Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me (Psalm 43:3).

Do you make impulsive decisions? Many people do. Some make snap decisions because the clock is ticking and a course of action is needed right now. Others make hasty decisions because they hate being pressured and just want the situation to be resolved. And some rush to judgment because they lack the patience needed to carefully look at all their options. But acting without thinking things through is a dangerous practice. Relying on your instincts assumes that your instincts can be trusted. Sadly, they can’t. Your gut reaction is to avoid discomfort at all costs. If confrontation will lead to a tough fight with an uncertain outcome, your instinct will be to avoid it. If you have a choice between doing the easy thing or the right thing, easy will always look more attractive.

By nature, we are all selfish. Our instincts are to make life good for ourselves regardless of how others might be affected. If we act without thinking, our behavior is going to reflect that selfishness for everyone to see. To make good decisions, you must take the time to think things through before settling on a course of action. You need to study the problem and consider how your words or deeds might impact others. You need to engage your brain before pushing the send button or opening your mouth or handing over your money. And since our instincts tend to be narrowly focused on what’s best for us at this moment, we need to pray for help in seeing things from God’s perspective.

Of course, there are situations where we don’t have the luxury of time when making a choice, so it’s a good idea to prepare ourselves by spending time with the LORD in prayer and Bible study throughout the week. If you are in regular consultation with God, you won’t feel so unprepared when faced with a crisis that demands immediate action. Your sinful instincts will be tempered by knowledge of God’s priorities, a knowledge that can help you evaluate the situation properly.

What if you screw up? We all make bone-headed mistakes. Thankfully, God’s Son died to pay the price for your mistakes and rose from the grave so you always have someone to turn to. No situation is hopeless. Just stop and reevaluate things, asking Jesus to give you clarity of vision. If you are on the wrong path, He will forgive you and point you in a better direction. You just need to be flexible enough to let Jesus take the lead.

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