a breath, a prayer and pay attention to what really matters…

i’m learning lot about micro decisions these days.  i’m discovering more and more just how ready GOD is to help me and empower me to choose well and to live better.  if i’ll only take a moment, take a breath, whisper a prayer and pay attention to what really matters and do what’s right.

spend a little time thinking before you decide.  at least take a breath.  capture a moment and whisper a prayer and reflect on the kind of life you want to live. 

example:  you want to keep peace in your home so you think, maybe i shouldn’t mention this troubling issue i’m having with my spouse because peace is a value in our home.  but then you know… you’ve taken a moment, you’ve caught your breath, you’ve whispered a prayer and you feel deeply if i let this go then a higher value will be lost.  because more than valuing peace of the moment i really value a healthy relationship and if i let this go this feeling will turn into anger and anger will become the cancer of bitterness.  so you make a micro decision to speak about the issue.  and the next day you’re so glad that you did. 

or you’re recovering from alcoholism.  and you’re thinking about going to a bar just to eat the pretzels or to eat the cheap happy hour food.  but then you feel a thirst crawling up in your throat.  so you take a breath, you whisper a prayer and you go home instead.  you’ve made a good micro decision. 

i live in the same world you do.  i often made decisions on the fly.  honestly, i think most of us are addicted to the fast pace of life.  few of us want to wait on the LORD, take time to study, whisper a prayer or consult a friend.  delayed gratification doesn’t seem to be cool or in vogue these days so we tend to just rush in while the iron is hot, we say.  and we often live to regret those decisions.

just a thought from the front porch…