Wisdom Over Impulse

 

 

Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him. Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab's brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” So, David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.”     — 1 Samuel 26:5-8

 

David knows Saul, the warriors of Israel, their tactics, and the opportune times to infiltrate their ranks. They are exhausted from a long trip and tired, and David knows gathering intelligence will aid him in understanding his next move. So, David and Abishai go on a fast covert mission.

 

What David does here is how every believer should attack sin in our lives. Like David, we should never rush headlong into battle without gathering a battle buddy and intelligence for the challenge. Abishai’s eagerness to take immediate action can be tempting, yet it serves as a warning for the eager who want to “throw the spear”.  When we act too quickly, driven by impulsive emotions or the allure of immediate victory, we risk losing sight of the bigger mission, thus winning a battle and losing a war. We may even find ourselves trapped and surrounded holding a spear of sin in our hand.

 

David's mission is clear: gather intelligence, understand God's will, and then take action. One consistent lesson David has taught us in all his years of running from Saul is not to act impulsively; he gathers intelligence, understands God's will, and then takes action.

 

Today, you should do the same before reacting or responding to any challenge. First, gather intelligence about the situation. Second, take a moment to pray and ask God for insight into the problem. Pray aloud with a battle buddy, write out the pros and cons, and consult God's Word. Do your best in the heat of the moment to align your actions with God’s will.

 

In the battlefield of life, don’t let impulse be your spear; gather wisdom and aim true before you strike.

 

Impulse has put many men into regrettable situations which have destroyed marriages, careers, relationships and families.  Lust, anger, envy and pride.  Have you ever bought something, like a new truck or boat, and regretted it. It made us feel good the first month or so. We beam with pride. Polish it up and load the kids up in the truck and hook up the boat to drive to McDonalds. We may even drive to the one across town so we can show off our shiny new toy.  But then the payment comes and the maintenance and the gas….

 

Here is a technique to help you overcome impulse. Visualization. Athletes, pilots (Blue Angels), Special Operations (SWAT, SEAL Team Bin Laden raid) they all visualize themselves going through plays, moves, and missions so when the time comes, they don’t have to think about it. They can foresee obstacles and possible danger so they can prepare and navigate around or through it.  They don’t do it alone. They have battle buddies, teammates and coaches.  Visualization can come in the form of learning from others’ mistakes and seeing the negative outcomes. The temptation of having an affair, sending an angry email or saying words in anger can have consequences that will endure forever, and you will have to carry that burden.

 

Positive actions, words of encouragement and kindness are just as impactful and can have effects that last forever. We may not see them ourselves, but a life could be changed, and their direction could be altered in wonderful ways because you told or showed someone you believed in them. Think of all the kids and grandkids that were shaped by a negative or positive influence from their parents or grandparents. A stranger that you never met but could tell they were distressed so you took a moment to check on them and say a kind word. You may find out years later they had decided to commit suicide that very day until you came along.

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People are much more receptive to hearing about Jesus when we look and act more like Him. No one has convinced anyone to follow Jesus after yelling and cussing them out in anger.  We must control our impulses, manage ourselves, become self-aware and think of others more than we think of ourselves. When you reach those inflection points in life and the temptation is pulling you in a direction you know you shouldn’t go, pause, pray and push through it.  Discipline Equals Freedom.

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