The older I get the more I recognize my character defects
and how many I have! Over the past couple of days God has revealed a character
defect that has been life changing. Here
is what I have learned; I have two reactionary speeds; Analytical paralysis- (1st
gear) and impulsive reaction- (5th gear). I have come to realize that I tend to make
big decisions in my life in 5th gear. I may analyze something for a while but I
often don’t let myself go through the steps of gears 2, 3 and 4. I use car metaphors, because I have come to
believe that we are like cars and need to go through the proper gears when
making decisions. It’s when we skip
steps or gears that we end up on the rumble strips of life.
There is a reason that God calls us to wait on Him and be patient.
(Psalm 27:14,) There is also a purpose
to Him asking us to bring our requests and prayers to him alone. (Philippians 4:6) I believe that He wants us to go through the
proper steps when we’re making decisions, especially big life decisions. What I have been recently convicted of is
that I tend to give myself just two options when making decisions. I analyze, and over analyze and over think a
decision so much so that I stay stuck in first gear and never make a
decision. OR…I barely analyze my options
before revving up to fifth gear and jumping into the deep end. Unfortunately
reacting impulsively is my character defect that I tend to do on big decisions. Where to go for dinner…oh, I’ll over analyze
that bugger!
Let me give you an example – my beautiful dream house aka ‘The
Money Pit’. I knew when I saw a picture
of this house that I had to have it. It
was priced right, in the right area and right school district, not to mention
that it was the only house in this specific area that we could afford. Therefore, I must have it and it didn’t
matter if I ever saw it! I couldn’t make
it out to view the house, so my husband flew out to decide whether or not we
would be buying this house. He tried to
voice some concerns, but they sounded minor to me so we bought the two-story
Colonial farmhouse without me ever seeing it.
Mistake number one. I should have
been more patient, investigated it more and realized that maybe this house
looks perfect but really isn’t the perfect house after all. I should have waited, prayed, researched,
prayed and done my due diligence before buying a house sight unseen. Yet, I didn’t because it sounded like the
perfect house therefore how could this not have been God’s plans for us? Now tens of thousands of dollars later in
repairs I see the flaws of this ‘dream’ house and realize that I fell in love
with the ‘dream’ and didn’t wait to investigate the reality.
I could give you numerous examples of how I’ve rushed into
decisions only to say to God – “How did I get here?” Now that I have seen this character defect I
have to fix it and I know that means a test is coming! We live in a fast paced, impatient
world. We (I) want things when I want
them and often feel like I can spot God’s will therefore I should just
jump. My new process will truly be
waiting on the Lord; asking for His
direction, praying, waiting, listening and then asking again. I will treat my decisions more than a high
performance car and ease into 5th gear versus grinding the gears to
get to where I feel like I should be. I
need to start treating my God given life and the decisions He has given me like
a Lamborghini versus a Pinto. Xo Melissa
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