I am an over-thinker by nature.
I think most of us are, especially those of us who have experienced repeated disasters resulting from impulsive decisions.
When approached with opportunities we’ve been taught to pause, think about things, pray about things, and then circle back when we feel good about the decision.
And certainly, we don’t want to like reactive lives void of intent and purpose.
But sometimes, I feel like I miss important God-scheduled appointments because I over-think everything to pieces.
So as a people pleaser, I used to just instantly say yes to EVERYTHING. Then I grew up a little, got burned out and overwhelmed a couple of times, read some books on boundaries and giving myself permission to say no, and the pendulum swung the other way.
But I still was no good at saying no, so I would say, ‘Let me think about that’ or ‘Let me pray about that,’ which was really just a stalling technique until I could come up with a nice way or a good reason to say no.
Weighing the pros and cons on big decisions is important. Time is precious and fleeting so we have to ration it wisely.
But there’s something to be said for the power of NOW.
Sometimes the last thing we need to do is think about it, pray about it, consider all the options and angles. Sometimes we need to take immediate action. Stop thinking and MOVE.
I remember one night during my single days between husbands, I got a call from a friend around dinner time one Saturday night. Caroline was with her dad, I had gone out the night before and had no plans to speak of.
“Hey, I’m up in Gainesville. Some friends of mine are having a party. Why don’t you come up here?”
I paused, “Well, I don’t know. I mean, I went out last night. I don’t know any of your friends…” I went back and forth a few times and then she interrupted me.
“Lindsey. Stop thinking and just get in the car and get up here.”
I giggled. She knew me well. I changed my shirt, put on some earrings and lipstick, typed the address into my GPS and headed north. And had a great time.
Taking time to consider options and make a good decision is a pretty good standard policy.
The problem is when we start applying it to God’s commands.
God is not like one of our friends or relatives who doesn’t know our lives, our previous commitments, our obligations. He knows everything about our lives, everything about the lives we’ll affect by said action and how it will influence all eternity. So when He says ‘jump,’ we need not hesitate to grab the trampoline.
We see this in the gospels regularly. Jesus says, ‘Follow Me,’ the fishermen drop their nets, the tax collector leaves his booth and they get to play a part in the greatest rescue mission of all time, the saving of the human race.
They didn’t ask why or for how long or get any details. Jesus’ invitation carried an implicit NOW. And they were smart enough to accept.
And not everyone said yes. There were plenty of excuses, hold-ons, let-me-go-do-thises, let-me-think-about-its. But Jesus kept walking. The countdown clock on His life started the moment He was born and He had no time to waste talking people into things.
We were discussing this in my women’s Bible study a few months ago, how good we are at talking ourselves out of doing things when the Holy Spirit prompts.
One night we made a pact. For one week, the week between meetings, when we felt God asking us to do something, we would just do it. No thinking allowed. Just for one week.
And what a week it was.
I was at Chick-fil-A, grabbing lunch between jobs, and God decided to test me on my pact.
See those police officers over there?
I looked to my right and saw two African-America cops, a man and a woman, having lunch at a booth to my right.
Pray for them.
Okay, no problem. Lord, I want to lift up these officers to You…
No, go pray WITH them.
My stomach dropped. He couldn’t be serious. But Lord, they’ll think I’m a weirdo.
No thinking, remember? Just do it.
Aw, jeez…
I finished up my #1, threw my trash away and approached their table.
“Hi,” I began, having no idea what to say. They looked up at me curiously. “I’m Lindsey.” I stuck out my hand and shook both of theirs. “I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate what you guys do for us. I know it’s pretty tough out there right now.”
They nodded and the man said, “Yeah, it really is.”
I took a deep breath, shut down my brain that was screaming protests and said, “And I’d like to pray for you guys, if that’s okay.”
They looked at each other, obviously confused, and I stood there for a couple seconds that seemed like hours.
The woman cop looked back up at me. “Sure, that’d be nice.”
With no thought in my head, I squatted down by their table and reached for their hands. Still caught off guard, they took my hands and joined theirs.
And I prayed. Out loud. Right there in the middle of Chick-fil-A (which is probably the most acceptable fast food restaurant to pray in). I thanked God for their willingness to serve, I prayed for their protection, their families and God’s blessing on each of them.
I said, “Amen” and stood up. The man released my hand, but the woman held on for another couple of seconds.
“Thank you,” she said simply, her eyes burning into mine.
“You’re welcome,” I smiled. “You guys have a good day. And be safe.” I kept my head down and walked out the door, my heart racing.
I headed to my car. There, God. Are You happy?
Very, came the reply.
And I went about my day.
We gathered for Bible study the next week and swapped stories. One girl felt God telling her to buy flowers for a homeless woman. She argued with Him, insisting that buying food or water would be more practical, but He insisted on flowers.
She obliged. And when my friend handed her the bouquet, the woman through shocked and grateful tears, told her that people give her stuff all the time. Food, money, a blanket. But no one had ever given her flowers.
After all, nobody gives flowers out of obligation or practicality. They’re simply a gesture of love. And apparently God knew exactly what she needed most at that moment.
I’m both relieved and disappointed that we allowed the week to end without re-upping our commitment. But I can’t help but wonder if that’s how we’re supposed to live. All the time. At the ready. On call for our King.
I remember an old episode of Grey’s Anatomy (you know, before everybody started leaving and dying off). All the doctors were vying to be the next chief of surgery and were scrambling to come up with ways to impress the board.
McSteamy, I mean, Dr. Sloan was whining to Dr. Bailey, “All the other doctors are putting together ten-year plans for the hospital. I don’t have a ten-year plan.”
Dr. Bailey, forever annoyed with all the drama, whipped around and said, “I don’t have a ten-year plan. I have a right-now plan.” And she went on to list all the things she had on her list that had to happen RIGHT NOW.
God has a plan. God has lots of plans actually. He’s got a five-second plan, a 24-hour plan, a this-year plan, a this-century plan. And of course, He’s got THE Plan for all eternity.
And some of that plan involves us. Right. Now.
So as things get thrown at me all day, I must try to keep my requests from others separate from the prompts of the Holy Spirit. You don’t tell the God of the Universe that you’ll think about it, or more hilariously, will pray about it.
You don’t stall, saying why now isn’t a good time, but maybe some other time.
And You don’t try to reason with Him about why your plan is better. (Yes, I’ve done that before. More often than I care to admit.)
There is power in the quick yes, the right now.
So I challenge you (and myself) that the next time an impulse strikes that could possibly be God moving your heart, don’t think. Just do it.
We have no idea what the results will be. I don’t know if one of my cop friends dodged a bullet because of my prayer of protection. I don’t know if one of them had maybe started to give up on their faith in humanity because of all the fire they were under at the moment.
I don’t know what that homeless woman had been feeling right before she was handed the flowers. I don’t know what she did with them after my friend walked away.
But frankly none of that is any of my business. My job is to obey. And God takes it from there.
I want to be available to my King at all times. I don’t want Him to expect an argument, pushback or me just plain acting like I don’t hear Him.
I want Him to be able to count on me to act in the NOW.
And trust Him with whatever happens next.
