When thinking about your options, or when going through your own personal decision making process, do you use your gut? We all have a process that we use whether we know it or not, that we go through when trying to make decisions. We may list the pros and cons, we may research, we may follow a trusted adviser, we may pray, but though we don’t all acknowledge it, we at some level use our gut or intuition. I myself do all those things and more depending upon the weight of the choice that I am making. But more and more I am trying to listen to my gut.  I am trying to pay attention to my intuition even in the small choices that you and I make daily.

Obviously, some of us are more adept at reading those seemingly nebulous, can’t put your finger on it sensations. Many of us even ignore them, thinking that our logic or intellect is the only way to go. But there are some who rely heavily on those sensations and believe that they are there for us to pay attention and listen to as a means of God given guidance. I too believe that those intuitions or senses are something that God hard wired into all of us. We all can look back at how many times it is those sensations that have kept us out of harms way or drawn us to certain people or situations that have been for our benefit.

So what does it take for us to begin to hear those intuitive voices? What are  some ways to cultivate those gifts of God in our lives? First of all, how about reflecting on those very times when your intuition or the intuition of others moved you on the right path. Or those times when you ignored your gut and found your self in places or situations that could have been avoided. Secondly, slow down, take time to listen. Give yourself the space needed to follow. Ask God to show you and to help you integrate those sensations into your daily process.

Following your gut is not at the expense of all the other steps that we take as we make choices. We need to consider what the Word of God says, we need to research and list the pros and cons, we need the time and space to consider and mull over things as we decide what to do or where to go. Our gut feelings take into consideration all of those things and more.  It is perhaps a synthesis of all of these things, our intuition.  Maybe it is just a way given to us to take it all in and in those times of great need or when our time to decide is quick our gut intuition speeds the process up and we instinctively choose. Whatever it is fully, or how it truly all works I don’t know, but It is certainly God given and for our benefit.

How do you decide? How intuitive are you? How has God used those gifts in your life as you try to navigate your way in this world?