It is hard to know what to do when there are so many factors involved in a big decision. Many times we already have the answer, a gut feeling, but are afraid to trust it. Sometimes that gut feeling is God’s guidance whispering “Don’t do it” or conversely, “Yes, go there.” 

If you were to sit down with me and have coffee, I would ask you “What is your gut feeling on this?” because gut feelings can be God’s guidance.

Our minds want to line up our speech, direction, and actions with our inner man, so we should trust decisions that line up with the core of our spiritual beliefs.  It is integrity, a wholeness. We have a gut reaction when things are in sync with the good in our lives and God’s plans.

First, get yourself in the right place mentally and spiritually.

Prayer is a way of reminding your heart and mind which way you are headed. You are conferring with God, rallying the troops, and making the way clear.

Then, surround yourself with good people, a healthy environment. Clean up your life. When you are clear, you can trust your gut feelings, because it will be God’s urging unclouded by anger, fear, and darkness.

Over coffee we could discuss it, but you usually know deep down  the right thing to do . 

A decision rooted and grounded in fairness, sincerity, love, mercy, peace, and justice, without selfishness and vindictiveness is clearly the right direction.

With God’s direction, there is no murkiness. Right from wrong is clear. Godly and un-Godly are clear.

I get an urging inside when I head in the right direction. Things fall into place. I feel excited, energetic, but also calm, and confident. When God is in it, the world moves out of the way.

Don’t get me wrong. With God, things are not always easy, but they will come like stepping stones laid out as you put your foot out for the next step. It is like working with a healthy grandfather. He will work you sunup until sundown, yet you feel accomplished. You are worn out, but exhilarated by the work. 

If you yearn to feel grounded and certain of your direction when faced with a huge decision or obstacle, you can.

Gods guidance usually shows up in the form of balance or peace, something merciful and groundbreaking.

If you feel intense pressure to do something that runs contrary to your beliefs, obviously it is not God. If you feel intense pressure to rise to a challenge, consider if it is the right challenge at the right time. If you want to prove yourself to others, but are frantic, angry, and afraid, it is not God.

In the midst of prayer and a balanced healthy life, it is our motives and the motives of others that reveal whether we should do something or not.

Motives are at the heart of decision making. What is your motive for doing whatever it is that you are thinking of doing?

Will good come of it? Is it the best? Is there another way? Is it only about you?

Are you forsaking your responsibilities altogether or handling them still?

On wisdom from the biblical passages James 3:16, 17
…16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. 

Our everyday decisions are really part of a bigger picture. They come in groups. Very few decisions stand alone, even who you spend time with or where you go.

Your life is made of those decisions and actions, which all reproduce and create more decisions and actions, so keeping your goals and values in the forefront make decision making easier.

If you need to prove something to yourself and feel great about where you are headed after prayer, that sounds more like God.

God lifts a weight when we go to him in prayer. It may still be hard, but we feel less alone.

An absence of pressure does not mean you are on the right track, but peace in the midst of difficulty is the presence of God.

biblical passage from Psalms 46:1,2,3

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in times of trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth is transformed
and the mountains are toppled
into the depths of the seas,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake in the surge.

When you go through hard things, he is there holding back the worst. We can’t imagine all the things he spares us from having to go through. We can trust the plan.

His ways are kind or gentle, occasionally taking courage to stand for something. Justice, courage, mercy, and fairness walk hand in hand when God is in it.

When God is in the midst of a decision, we don’t trample anyone on the way out.

We put out our hand and take them with us in some way. God elevates the moment, intensifies the best parts.

#prayer #clarity #Godlycounsel

So, trust your gut when you have cleaned your inner house up, it may be God urging you in the right direction.

Barefoot and writing, 

Kim

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Trust your gut.