Learning how to hesitate before reacting.?

Question

This may seem like a weird question but over the years its a simple principle that I have found to truly help me to stay with the Lord through all kinds of situation.
When we are faced with a situation where we can react right away in ourselves, from our flesh. from our mind.. from who we are naturally, many times the result is that we are not walking and having our being according to the Spirit indwelling us but rather we are in our flesh or the self. BUT.. learning how to simply hesitate when faced with things.. to just turn to the Lord... saying" Oh Lord Jesus... i want to deal with this in You" or to simply pray or call upon the name of the Lord has a way of "switching on" or "ushering us" and directing us to the Spirit. Its a matter of seconds... but it works.
These few moments gives the Lord a way to be our Way Truth and Life in that circumstance. I just found this to be such a help and wanted to know if any of you have ever tried this or have learned this from the Lord.

Answer 1

It is called "walking in the Spirit of God" and this is where we should all be walking. You explained it very well. It is even called crucifying the flesh. We want our spirit and soul following the Holy Spirit within us. Sometimes, I ask the Holy Spirit to please don't let Jean show up.

Answer 2

Thank you for this post Sandy! There have been those times when another person made me upset and I wanted to retaliate in a very unchristlike way, but I have discovered that when I choose to wait and allow the emotions to settled that God often times directs me to settled sensitive matters in a more diplomatic way. Sometimes it is best to wait before doing or saying anything. We also must learn to forgive and say I am sorry if I offended you.

Answer 3

I have tried it--and continue to practice it--and it has changed my life entirely. Rarely now do I act out of anger, pride, derision, self-righteousness, and so forth. God has helped me increase the distance of time between when something happens and when I respond to the point where I may not react for a few days, until I am sure that I'm not acting out of some impure, self-serving motive.

My relationships have improved. My inner peace has improved. My behavior has improved beyond measure.

Practicing what you describe here brings great benefits.

Answer 4

Hebrews 6 says leave the principles, to go on to perfection.
Why are you hanging on to a principle, it's holding you back.

It's preposterous order to teach first and learn after.
Go ye and learn what meaneth Hosea 6:6: Mt 9:13.
For scriptures were written for our "learning": Rom 15:4.

'The Lord' you're 'staying with' is not the Lord of Lords.
Go on, to "the Lord is now that Spirit"(of grace & truth).
For Christ's sake woman, it's AD--->only goes one way,
unto the end we're told to endure unto to be saved(only):

The "grace"(only) of our Lord "JC" with you all. Amen.

Answer 5

Yeah, I'd definitely agree that taking a second to think rather than reacting immediately can be helpful. You don't have to be religious to know that.

On another thought, both are reactions. One is just a reaction that involves more mental energy (the stop and think one), and is therefore more likely to yield a desirable result.

Answer 6

Great Advice! I try this type of thing with short prayers myself, but VERY often, I react first, and pray later.

Answer 7

Thank You.Sister.I needed that after responding ,"Bite Me" to a person.Who e-mailed me through Yahoo Q&A called me &%#$ and threatend me.I should have only prayed for him.I've taken your words to heart.Thanks again,God Bless!

Answer 8

He who hesitates is lost, you either serve God or you don't the rest is B.S.