Posts Tagged ‘Faith’

Malcolm Gladwell describes thin-slicing as the main topic of his bestselling book “Blink”.  Thin-slicing is an interesting concept and the term is most frequently used in philosophical and psychological areas.  What is thin-slicing?  Well basically it is the capacity of people to unconsciously identify patterns in experience based on very brief times when it occurred.  In other words, brief slices of experience unconsciously reveal a pattern of behavior to the observer.

Why is this important when we discuss life growth strategies?  One of the concepts covered here is the idea of intuitive knowing and thin-slicing would seem to indicate that some of what we call intuition is based upon experience – even if we do not realize it.

Although it is a valuable concept thin-slicing does not fully explain intuition.  Many Christians dismiss the concept of intuition as something relegated to psychics and unredeemed man.  I personally think this is a simplistic response born more of fear than the leading of the Lord.  Proverbs 14:12 in the Bible states: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.  Closer examination will reveal that this is talking about reasoning and the rational aspects of the mind and not intuition.

Intuition is a capacity that God has given to mankind for a purpose related to His plan for us.  This verse from Job 38:36, “Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart”? is translated, “Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind”? in the New Living Translation.  This latter translation seems to more fully reveal the gist of what is being said.

Someone once asked, “how do you know God is real?” and my response was something like, “I don’t know I just know”.  In my opinion faith is intuitive.  If you will open yourself to the possibility you will find that God is real.

God is a God of purpose.  When we learn to pray to Him in a non religious way with intentionality it is life transforming.  Here is part of an introduction to a book on prayer that I wrote many years ago.  There will be a link for a free copy of the book at the end.

The young doctor came out of the treatment room and just shook her head and I knew what it meant.  It was November of 1991 and Althea, my wife of 16 years, had suddenly died after a long illness. The emotional pain that I felt at that moment cannot be put into words.  Waiting at home were our four children who no longer had a mom to talk to or hug.   We were facing what seemed like an impossible situation.  How would I be able to raise our children alone? What would I do without my wife? What would our children do without their mother?

The next few days were like a bad dream.  I would have gladly traded places with Althea.  I knew she was with the Lord in heaven and I envied the fact that she was free from all problems and worries.  I asked God why she died and not me. He had to know that our kids really needed their Mom.  I had some other questions too.  Was there anything else I could have done to change things?  Did I pray enough or exercise faith enough for my wife’s healing?  What did I do wrong?

I began to cry out to God like a drowning man gasping for air. If we were to survive as a family we needed His help. The circumstances we faced did not allow me the luxury of going through the motions of prayer – I needed to know how to really pray and make contact with the Lord. All the questions of why things happened gradually gave way to more pressing needs. Everyday seemed to bring new challenges. Lives were hanging in the balance and I needed God’s help.

I know you have heard this before but — God is faithful.  He helped us.  He has proven His faithfulness time and time again since those tragic days. …

I used to read books anxious to get the help I needed based upon what they promised.  Now I am learning how to rest in the Lord.  Why don’t you allow God to take the pressure off and you will see a truth about Him that could change your life. You can find yourself really walking by faith and not by sight. He really is an awesome God!

My desire is that God will touch you … Just relax – there is no pressure for us to perform.  God will stir us into action but first let us come to Him and learn.

“Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.  I’ll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”   (Matthew 11:28-30 – The Message)

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