Impulsive or decisive

 I sometimes make rash, impulsive decisions. Usually, I second guess my choices, whether they are impulsively made or made after much contemplation. Is that a trust you gut instinct type of behavior or just stupidly impulsive immaturity? 

In the rapid pace of the world today, we make split-second decisions all the time. We make millions of small instant choices every day. They are mostly done on instinct, proceeding from the subconscious. We depend on them in life and death decisions when say, driving a car, for instance. We trust those most of the time; why think that the first impulse in more significant decisions is less reliable? 

I am not talking about decision-making where more facts need to be gathered. I am not referring to decisions when input from others is required or when the decision is to be made jointly.  

I am talking about being decisive and relying on "gut" instinct. I am talking about true believers who the Holy Spirit indwells. We need to learn to know His will for ours, and that is in His Word. 

The main thing is all these decisions need to be bathed every day in prayer. If you don't have time to pray, you may have a lot of time to regret. The Lord gives guidance, but I don't believe He speaks directly or audibly. Justin Peters has some good advice on this subject of God speaking. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight. — Proverbs 3:5. ... "Trust," according to Google, is: Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.

Is good the opposite of perfect?

I am repairing one of my vintage shoes. I buy and rejuvenate quality used shoes I find on eBay.  On one pair, I accidentally scuffed the toe box very severely. I have worked tirelessly trying to repair the damage. I had meticulously polished those toe caps to a high mirror shine. They were awesome.

Now since the scuffing accident, I have been on a mission to repair the damage. Now I know leather by its very nature will not look perfect. In fact, the imperfections give leather its charm. But now, the quest is to restore the shoe to its former glory.

I have sanded, filled, buffed, dyed, and polished, then repeated the steps when the repair did not meet my standard of restoration. At some point, the process must be good enough. But where is that line?

That is the point of any endeavor, whether it is writing this blog or any other project or pursuit is how to know when to stop trying to perfect the thing and just let it go as is. 

I am sure this is why the great artists and musicians bordered on insanity.

Flexibility

When you begin with a rigid schedule and are afraid to deviate from it, you may be placing a burden on yourself you do not need. Now you need some set goals and plans and timetables and schedules. But building in flexibility allows for some flexibility required to handle emergencies and unplanned, spontaneous events.

I am arguing for a happy balance. Franklin Covey does an excellent job illustrating this: put in the big rocks first and let the little rocks fall around them. Let's say the little rocks are the flexible things. The big rocks are the absolute must-do tasks. 

So when planning a week, a month, or a year: allow for the little rocks.

Temptation

 Temptation has been mankind's problem from the start. So let's explore this a little. 

Think this through we have accepted the word temptation as anything that distracts or derails us from fulfilling our purpose or doing what we ought to do or should do. 

The definition of temptation is "drawn away. " It could mean we wavered off course, but that would imply we chose the wrong path, or we unintentionally, unconsciously,  veered that way or made that choice by accident. No, temptation means we are drawn away not by accident but by a conscious decision to make that choice because the "temptation" overrode our reason. 

The brain and conscience (soul) weighs all things and is either guided by the "flesh" or the "spirit ."  The temptation come when the choice to be be made is correct or convenient or self serving and not goal enhancnig, 

This is a topic for a deep theological discussion. I would like to hear your opinion?