November 15, 2009
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Sunday Devotional: You're Impulsive...Thank God!
Recently I've been reading some blogs and talking to some people who are very impulsive. They take big risks and tell people how they really feel. They assert themselves boldly into situations even if they don't have all the facts and are just acting on instinct.
Awful, right? Bad Christians? They should be more quiet? More self-controlled? Less likely to randomly interact with strangers?
But reading the Bible, I think that their personality trait of being impulsive or assertive at times is a God-given gift. I see how impulsive and passionate David was...I see Nehemiah, impulsively telling the king of the needs of his people...I see Jesus in the temple, throwing out the moneychangers. I see Paul, once impulsive by dragging Christians to their death, then impulsive by being willing to speak the Word of God to anyone, at any cost to himself. Repression, by itself, is not a spiritual virtue! Self-control is. Listening is. But sometimes, God wants us to be impulsive and aggressive, wants us to be outspoken and honest.
Our culture sometimes punishes people who are impulsive, who don't fit societal norms of how to talk or interact. I see the pain this causes some of my friends (especially women, who seem to be crushed to fit the mold of what is acceptable to society). But if it wasn't for impulsive people, who would randomly hug us? or send us silly texts "just because?" Or decide that this year, our group of friends should go on a cruise so we can re-connect and get closer to each other? Your impulsiveness helps spur us less impulsive people on to catch up with you, and often, we need to do so!
If your impulsiveness and passion is based on good things, like love for your neighbor, a desire for honesty and truth, or, most importantly, a wish to serve God and do his will, don't beat yourself up too much over the small mistakes it can cause! Don't miss the blessing that your spontaneous acts bring to others. I look at myself, and I want to be more like you impulsive, assertive people, ready to do what needs to be done even if it embarrasses me a little, or looks silly at first. I don't want to be analyzing when I should be doing. I hope you can see that God gave us all our normal personality traits! They all need to be mastered and tamed, but who we are is given to us to bless others, to serve God, and yes, even to amuse ourselves, haha. Please don't think your emotions are this curse you have to overcome so you can be a boring robot. Value the way God made you, and ask him how to use it better.
Eh, this post was rough-cut, but I don't want people beating themselves up for what is really a gift in disguise. Impulsive people for God are the only way his work ever gets done, and I have a lot to learn from you all!
Comments (34)
Good post! Impulse is what makes the world go round.
Over the past few years I have noticed that I have developed the impulse to be frankly honest and up front in all situations. I like the idea of how refreshing and simple this trait is, and I am trying to develop it in myself. But it is difficult and usually gets hampered down by my more overwhelming desire to not rock the boat or say or do anything that might be awkward or cause me embarrassment.
But impulsive fun and spontaneity....always good!
Just looking around us, it seems pretty obvious that God created us humans with a great variety of personality. There are the quiet reserved folk who are gifted listeners. And there are the spontaneous blurters out of whatever is in their minds at the moment, a ready opinion on everything! And there's every grade of reticence or readiness between those two ends of the spectrum.
I tend to be quick to blurt out what's on my mind. So I find myself wanting to emulate my quieter, more dignified friends whom I so admire. And it could be that some of my quieter friends wish they could speak out as easily as I.
Don't you think we can each learn from the other? I know that I sometimes yearn to be more quiet and controlled like someone who takes longer to start talking, and who, when he does shows more restraint than I seem to be able to muster!
Hm....this was provoking.
I think the key point to consider would be what your impulsiveness stems from-- a focus on self or a focus on others?
I really REALLY liked what you said, though. "Repression is not a spiritual virtue." Excellent. I'm totally quoting you on my facebook. ^_^
~V
very good reminder. Growing up, my father was very adament about being rational and not making decisions with my emotions. I understand where he was coming from and I agree with him to a certain extent...but I think that he took it a little too far and gave me the impression that I shouldn't feel and I shouldn't let my emotions show. I recognized that there was something wrong with that but I couldn't pinpoint what so I started thinking that emotions were a bad thing and a perfect person would only think rationally. I've just recently met someone who makes me feel safe and he is teaching me that it is ok to show my emotions, even when they don't make sense. He really has no idea how important and wonderful a thing it is that he is teaching me.
lol, so yeah, that was a slight rabbit trail...but when you said "repression is not a spiritual virtue" it made me think about that.
I love being around impulsive people...sometimes I feel the urge to be impulsive but because I am fairly shy and because I'm afraid of what others might think, very few people see that side of me (and even they see it rarely.)
Good post. Impulsive people are where it's at. haha.
& Thanks for the rec!!
They're your impulses. Everyone has good and bad impulses, encourage the good and suppress the bad.
But blaming or crediting god for your actions, desires or beliefs has historically been very dangerous.
Never been impulsive. Don't know what you're talking about. Nothing but level headed, cool, and controlled, all my life.
*Praying under my breath*....God, please don't strike me dead for lying.
I guess I can understand that. Impulsiveness correctly used is a good thing. It does help to actually get stuff done. If everyone was reserved (like me) nothing would ever get accomplished for a long long while. :0)
I agree impulsiveness can be good but it must be tempered by the Holy Spirit...Consider Peter before and after Pentecost. Prayer is always good. It can keep us from cutting off some ears unnecessarily.
I really like this, thanks.
Yes, I see.... you do make a rather convincing argument for impulse. I will think this one over carefully.
"being impulsive or assertive at times is a God-given gift" -- underscore, "at times". Being constantly impulsive and acting immediately on every emotion generally means trampling other people.
Good devotional.
All of the impulsive people rejoice!
Invite us to the next cruise though.
@agnophilo - Jesus loves you. Oh wait, was that impulsive?
Thank God that He knows how to use all our character traits for His benefit. They are God given! Our greatest strengths can also be our greatest weaknesses... at least that is how it seems to me! Or we need to realize our greatest weakness God also turns into our greatest strengths. I have to trust that I am in His will and He made me just the way He made me for a reason! I may not understand it now, but hopefully one day I will.
I TOTALLY know what you're saying. I've felt the saaaaame way. For me it always goes back to fear of man, vs. love for man and missing out on seeing God's perspective of me and others. I'm sure that impulsive people have their times of less impulsiveness, but those are the times we don't see it.
I'll have to ask my bro...he's one of those impulsive people I've looked up to. 
~Sarah
ryc: No, though if I replaced him with a sock puppet...the self-righteousness might go down.
@ShimmerBodyCream - Jesus is dead. Was that impulsive too? : P
@agnophilo - no. he rose from the dead and created me to lovvvve you foreeeeeeeever
@ShimmerBodyCream - Your parents created you. So far as loving me forever I read your last blog and am now confused.
@agnophilo - my last blog? Now I'm confused. Unless you're referring to my application, in which case it will probably get rejected.
I'm glad you posted this
I struggle with feeling like that sometimes, I'm very outspoken. I think we all have our own spiritual insecurities and we tend to bring down others in an attempt to make ourselves feel more comfortable.
I've pulled away from this guy again. I found out he lied about being involved in our church and having an accountability partner to appear more spiritual... so if that isn't a good enough sign for me, just ask God to smack me a few times.
Love always
@ShimmerBodyCream - Yes, the application. You seem to be here to love a lot of people forever : P
@agnophilo - I'm sweet like that.
@ShimmerBodyCream - Or you're a big xanga slutbag : P
@agnophilo - that was the nerdiest pseudo insult evaaar.
@agnophilo - Oh, no you didn't! See ya, Mr. McHatePants. @ShimmerBodyCream - is a special friend who gets to do pretty much whatever she likes here.
Calling her names is a one-way ticket to ban land!
Good points!:)
I agree. Depending on what it is your are being impulsive about, impulsiveness can be good. Very insightful post
wow thanks...that's definitely my personality and i make little mistakes with it all the time....
I wish I was more impulsive, but I am very shy, so it doesnt happen often. This is a really good post, I like it alot, it reminds of how it is said that the Kingdom of God must be taken my violence(or extreme force)
This reminds me of something my boyfriend has been saying for a while...he sorta talked about it in his latest post.
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