“He who is slow to wrath has great understanding. But he who is impulsive exalts folly.”  Proverbs 14:29

Impulsive Behavior

I’ve walked with the Lord many years and you’d think I would know by now to be patient and rest in God’s peace, trusting Him in all things. But I can’t tell you how many times I’ve spoken an untimely word, or purchased something impulsively, not being wise with God’s grace or resources. I know Christian growth is a process, but my prayer is for more preventative sin protection.

When I was first a believer, my college and career pastor encouraged us to fall in love with Jesus by studying His life and Word, with worship and prayer, resulting in our heart’s desires being changed to be like Christ, while sin would fall off. I believe this, but sometimes it seems the more I grow, the more I realize the ugliness of my seemingly small sins and how awful they are to the Lord. I feel like the Apostle Paul in Romans 7:

15 For what I am doing, I do not understand, for what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.

17-18 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.

24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

 But hurray for the grace, love and forgiveness of God!

25 I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!

 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

This focus of grace by the power of the Holy Spirit is what the Lord calls us to walk in daily. I’m finding the more I practice this perspective and discipline, the more in love I am with my wonderful Savior and the more the impulsive sins fall off. I desire to please Him in everything and He, in return, gives me His heart!

Of course, this is a work in progress for us all. But our Lord does enlarge our hearts when we seek Him, and His promise is true: when we seek Him, we will find Him. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). The things that are added to us are the delights of His heart. We need to trust and embrace this promise, and those impulsive sin reactions will fall aside and His grace and love will prevail—even spilling over to all others in our lives. This is His protective sin protection.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your grace and protective power in us, calling us deeper into Your love.