Something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately is the idea that my first thought in any given situation is most likely the right thought. As most, I have always been familiar with the phrase, “Go with your gut”, and had some affinity toward that idea. Many books have been written with this thesis as its guide including Blink by Malcolm Gladwell in which he offers these insights:
There can be as much value in the blink of an eye as in months of rational analysis.
Truly successful decision making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking.
Over the years, I found myself thinking that as I matured in experience and in my faith, I should spend more time on making decisions… even decisions that I was sure that I knew the right way to go. What I’m starting to see is that God has given me a gift in the Holy Spirit and He is my “gut” and I should pay attention to Him.
Jesus promised this:
Luke 12:11-12
And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
If I will simply seek and trust God for guidance at the moment of a decision He has promised to give it.
My “gut” may tell me to act right away… and if I ignore that I’ll probably start to infuse my weak minded, pride filled or path of least resistance reasoning which will cause me to end up saying, “I knew it” and then going back doing what my “gut” told me in the first place.
My “gut” may tell me to wait on a decision and search out more information… and if I ignore that I’ll push forward with a weak minded, pride filled or a path of least resistance snap decision that will cause me to end up saying, “I knew it” and then have to back track and start over.
God has given me a great gift, primarily himself in the form of the Holy Spirit, and to not pay attention to him by neglecting my “gut” is not just unwise, it’s saying to him, “I don’t trust your promise… I’ll go it on my own”. My gut tells me that would be the wrong decision.
Great post, Shane … I suppose the trust factor comes in where we have to discern the difference between that “gut feeling” being the Holy Spirit, and not our own influenced by the heavy barrage of marketing and external influences.
I suppose that’s why, though I’m definitely more of an “instant” type guy … sometimes I force myself to wait … because if it’s the Holy Spirit, I know it won’t go away … but if it’s my own self being seduced by a kajillion external factors, I can wake up a day or so later, and it’s not that important anymore.
Then again, you can miss an opportunity of the Spirit that has a short window that way, too!
thanks for making me think!
Fred
A well written article on self doubt. Trusting our God given gift of instinct is sometimes a difficult task at best.