Testing Your Responses

I find that there are several responses I have to new things. I know many people who travel with me think that when I think up stuff the idea must fit well with me. Actually there are quite a few things I don’t like at all at first.

I find I can first test the level of my objection to things. There are actually three levels we all respond to most things.

One – The Level of Feeling

This is the rudimentary level of childhood. The ultimate truth tester is how it makes me feel. Does it make me feel threatened, or afraid? These feelings aren’t necessarily bad but they are a poor foundation on which to base your actions.

Two – The Level of Consciousness

The Ten Commandments are guides for us at the conscious level. The phrase here would be “it should be done.” This again is a fair response to life. There are many things that should be done. But there are times and seasons for everything. And most of the time I find people can’t jump from “shoulds” to action.

Three – The Level of Devotion

If the idea grows out of my devotion to Christ and His will in my life it moves me. Many things feel good and ought to be done but it’s those things that bring me closer to a devotion to Christ that usually work best. If I have a great idea for the church or my coaching ministry I have learned to ask myself: Will this bring us all closer to Christ – Is this something that is close to His heart? Will this grow from a passionate interest in his will?