Trust God, Not Your Gut

Researchers have found that we make thousands of conscious decisions every day. For instance, a study from Cornell University reveals that we make about 226 choices related to food alone! However, despite these interesting findings, many of us rely on our feelings to guide our choices. We often say things like, "My gut tells me to do this or that!" The issue with this approach is that it can be difficult to distinguish between genuine wisdom and the influence of that pepperoni pizza you ate at midnight!
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See, we need to go with God, not our gut, when it comes to decisions, especially significant ones. Here are five steps on how to do that:

Pray for God's perspective: Proverbs 28:26 / TLB tells us, "A man is a fool to trust himself! But those who use God's wisdom are safe." Going by feelings and instincts can sometimes lead you astray. Prayerfully seek God's leading to avoid making wrong decisions.

Gather the facts: Proverbs 18:13 says, "Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish." Decisions come in all shapes and sizes. However big or small, you need to get the facts. Break down the numbers, consider the variables, and seek God's peace. This step will increase your prayer time because asking God before making decisions will give you clarity and direction.

Count the cost: Proverbs 20:25 says, "It is foolish and rash to make a promise to the Lord before counting the cost." When you are making choices, you need to consider the cost. How will it impact your purpose and the people you care about? Most importantly, do you have God's blessing to move forward?

Ask for advice: Proverbs 19:20 tells us, "Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future." Effective decision-making needs to include shared thinking. Lean on trusted family members, friends, and spiritual leaders for counsel.

Apply the Golden Rule: Matthew 7:12 says, "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." When making decisions, it's healthy to remember the significance of treating others right. Cutting corners or going against Scripture's standards to get what you want by stepping on others or mistreating people is not God's will for you. Thus, those decisions are dead on arrival!

When you trust God instead of your gut, peace will follow. Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you."