216 – Gut Reaction Vs. Thoughtful Response

#faithbites #faithjourney reactions

When we look back at our lives, most of us can say we have made gut reactions versus thoughtful responses. Thise times when we were sleep deprived, hangry, emotional, or otherwise not thinking clearly. These reactions may have damaged our relationships, lost us opportunities, or just given others a negative impression of who we are.

Today, we we’re in the car for a very very long time. My youngest was sleeping in the back seat. I reached back, opened her bag, and grabbed a blanket to cover her. She awoke from the dead sleep, screamed at me for opening her bag, starting fligging stuff across the car, and fell back asleep. I have never seem her act like that. That was not her true self. It was caused by lack of sleep, not feeling well, and being in a strange place. Though she lashed out at me, I wasn’t her target. It was a gut reaction and not a thoughtful response.

What do you do when you. You have a gut reaction rather than a thoughtful response?

Scripture about Gut Reactions and Responses

A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger. – Proverbs 15:1

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. – Colossians 3:12

Reflection

We have all had gut reactions that we regret. Everyone has been the recipient of someone else’s lash out in anger moment. We can see by the Proverbs verse that being gentle turns away anger. When a gut reaction cones at us, we need to respond not in anger but in love.

In the case above, I responded mostly gently but with a bit of anger. I pulled the car over, talked to her, and threatened her that if she kept going we wouldn’t go on vacation. Not the best response but better than screaming and yelling which was my gut reaction. I am still working on my thoughtful responses.

As God’s chosen people, we need to respond (not react) in kindness and love. Thst is our calling. When we show this response, this temper future gut reactions of our friends and neighbors. Anger begets anger, but love begets love. As they say, kill ’em with kindness.

Charge

What are your normal gut reactions? Make a list of how you react in situations. Think about them, pray on them, and try to create thoughtful responses for the future.

I will work on being more thoughtful than reactive with the help of God.