Prayer Versus Impulse
Sabbath afternoon
05/17/2025
Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Acting on impulse drives a person to make decisions and take actions on the spur of the moment without thinking and praying things through properly. There is often a temptation at hand, goading you to say or do things right now, or else.
It is a safe assumption to make that devils are most successful in tripping up the Christian on the issue of impulse, more than any other temptation. In very many cases, you might not see temptations coming, so, when they burst upon you suddenly, there is the strong tendency to react impulsively.
It takes time for your first reaction to any situation to be Christlike every time, and therefore, we must be girded with the presence and power of The Holy Ghost preemptively, to avoid making grave errors in judgement, when we’re blindsided out of the blue.
Prayer on the other hand, slows you down, and thus causes you to consider and reconsider very carefully before making your move.
When the Christian takes things to God in prayer, it gives him time to hear God’s will in the matter, or it will allow time for the providences of God to direct in this or that situation.
Sometimes the Christian might be seeking guidance in a particular situation, or emergency, but in the heat of the moment, he may not readily recall what the Bible says on the issue, if applicable.
Therefore, stopping for a while to check in with God before moving forward in this or that decision, may allow enough time for The Lord to bring the passage to memory so that you can avoid any potential error that may be regretted later on.
Satan understands these two modes of thought and action, and therefore, he goes to work to lay snares for the feet of those who are driven primarily by the impulse of the moment, or who are habitually hasty in their decisions.
Very many Christians are ensnared with his devices, and as we get closer to prime time, persons will be driven almost to insanity in their decision-making processes.
Therefore, because practice makes perfect, it would become necessary for Christians to form the habit of checking in with God first, until that format will become second nature.
Too often persons find themselves checking in with God in retrospect, after the damage has been done, whereas if folks had prayed up front, with a humble patient spirit, we might have avoided a catastrophe. There’s a valid reason why the following passage is written in the Bible.
There is something called impulse buying where the Christian makes purchases on things he/ she never catered for. It was not on the grocery list, nor was it originally in your mind to get such and such and you never made allowance for the purchase.
But because it was on sale at the time, the decision was made in the heat of the moment, sometimes with buyer’s remorse following closely on the heels of the purchase.
Do not take our word for it, when you go home this evening, check out your wardrobe or closet, and see how many shoes, and dresses, and suits that were bought, which are hardly, if ever used.
Or if that does not work, check your garage and see how many tools and gizmos you bought in the heat of the moment, and in some cases, you forgot that the items were purchased previously, so that folks ended up buying the same thing two or three times as the case may be.
Sometimes it is the way something smells so good at the bakery, or looked so good on the store shelf, that causes a person to make the purchase without thinking things through.
Men in particular have to be very careful with the issue of impulse, when it comes to women, for you can be swayed this way or that by sudden external beauty, if the mind is not stayed on God at all times.
David fell on impulse and Solomon followed David’s lead, as various beautiful women would be seen on the spur of the moment, and then, without thinking through the ramifications properly, the decision was made right there and then, to bring them home to live.
But Solomon soon learned the hard way that if you want to treat a woman right, it will cost money, in most instances. Thus, the impulsive decision making continued, until the king ended up with about 1000 women.
And because every action breeds a reaction, he now found himself having to raise taxes across the board, on the backs of the citizenry to pay his child support or alimony as a result. It all boils down to impulse versus prayer. Let’s read:
[Prophets & Kings pp 55>56] Tax after tax was levied upon the people, that means might be forthcoming to support the luxurious court. The people began to complain. The respect and admiration they had once cherished for their king was changed into disaffection and abhorrence.
Satan also uses bad news and good news to drive persons into panic mode, whereas if they had let cooler heads prevail through prayer, such hurried decisions might never have been made.
Especially is this the case with bad news which can impact you adversely. In such situations, there often comes upon persons an urgency to do this or that or else, and in the heat of the moment, decisions and actions are taken, often with great regret.
After the time in November of last year, when many persons were greatly disappointed, some became disillusioned with the way things are going, and in the heat of the moment, some decided to uproot from America and head to other countries where they think things would be more favorable.
But there’s something such as one jumping from the frying pan into the fire, especially if your decision is made without earnest prayer. In fact, some persons might have been doing quite well in the frying pan, but now, who knows what their impulsive decisions may lead to.
This particular ploy of using impulse is also used by many stores and dealerships, when they say “Hurry before the sale ends, or the sale ends at midnight.
At other times they might say that this item is the last one they have, and even though that might be true, the fact is that pressure is brought to bear on the person in question to act immediately, without properly thinking things through.
After the steep tariffs were announced, some folks rushed into the dealerships to make their purchases before sticker shock set in. Others became tarrified, as they mulled the prospect of having to pay more for goods and groceries.
But in retrospect, one will have to question whether or not impulse played a leading role in the purchase or whether the issues were taken to God in prayer for due consideration.
The devil is most successful when there is nothing wrong with the item or the issue in question, per se. He might suggest that the dress or suit can be used for church and indeed it may be.
But the question is: Would this purchase be driven strictly by impulse, or would the Christian check in with God first, or at least hit the pause button for a while, just to think things through.
The Christian will also have to confront what we describe as good temptations, to do things or to take actions on the spur of the moment without prayer.
When the Scriptures teach us to acknowledge God in all our ways, the Christian will be checking in with God constantly, throughout the day, so that his/ her decisions could be guided with God’s wisdom, and discretion.
In some instances, God may speak through His word while in other instances He may use His providential working to direct you as to what course of action to pursue in this or that situation.
But if we have cultivated the disposition to be in a hurry, we will make ourselves vulnerable to attacks which under different circumstances would not have fazed us.
That is what Jesus was trying to communicate to His disciples, and especially to Peter, who on very many occasions, manifested an impulsive character. Satan is a careful observer, and he saw in Peter tendencies that would enable him to trip him up, when given the right circumstances. Let’s read:
Luke 22:31 And the Lord said Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fails not: and when you art converted, strengthen your brethren.
What God is looking for is the disposition, and the habit of the Christian to seek His face in all things. When this is the case across the board, God might help you, even if in one instance you forgot to pray.
The following are just a few examples of what we’re speaking, as a pattern of impulsive behaviors are manifested in Peter. Some of them result in good but others, not so much.
[1] Impulse when dealing with fear and uncertainty, as it is currently. The uncertainty in the atmosphere is causing some persons to go into full blown panic mode, for they know not what move to make, nor when to make it. Thus, like Peter, they can become prime targets for impulse. Let’s read:
Matthew 14: 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the
sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spoke unto them, saying, be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
[2] Impulse in cases where one is beside themselves with joy, excitement, or unexpected surprise. Some persons will speak, even when they know not what to say, but will utter things on impulse driven by the heat of the moment Let’s read:
Matthew 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Luke 9: 33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
[3] Impulsive actions and words drive by remorse or bad feelings. Sometimes, when one feels the sting of conscience in some particular situation, they may say or do things that are not in harmony with God’s will.
Some question whether or not devils can read your mind. They cannot, but they are careful observers. Therefore, they do spend a tremendous amount of time studying your pattern of behavior to arrive at correct conclusions as to what you will most likely do in a given situation.
Thus, in all of the examples given on Peter, some of them good, some not so good and some in between we will see the one characteristic surfacing over and over again, that of impulsiveness.
Thus, if indeed a person is impulsive by nature, and Christ is not yet formed within, or the person is not in the habit of checking in with God through prayer, it’s just a matter of time before the old devil will trip you up. Let’s read:
John 13:4 He rises from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he pours water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
A backdrop to Peter’s statement is here needed, for he uttered those words impulsively because of deep remorse. In other words, he was feeling very badly on account of them having to let Jesus do what they should have done. So yes, he was feeling very bad. Let’s read:
[The Desire of Ages pp 644] At a feast it was customary for a servant to wash the feet of the guests, and on this occasion, preparation had been made for the service. The pitcher, the basin, and the towel were there, in readiness for the feet washing.
But no servant was present, and it was the disciples’ part to perform it. But each of the disciples, yielding to wounded pride, determined not to act the part of a servant. All manifested a stoical unconcern, seeming unconscious that there was anything for them to do.
By their silence they refused to humble themselves. The disciples made no move toward serving one another. Jesus waited for a time to see what they would do. Then He, the divine Teacher, rose from the table.
Laying aside the outer garment that would have impeded His movements, He took a towel, and He girded Himself. With surprised interest the disciples looked on, and in silence waited to see what was to follow.
“After that He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded.” This action opened the eyes of the disciples. Bitter shame and humiliation filled their hearts. They understood the unspoken rebuke, and saw themselves in altogether a new light.
Here it is again, where that same characteristic of impulsiveness causes Peter to answer impatiently in a situation where he became quite irritated by the question asked.
If he had stopped to think about the nature of the question, and if he had even briefly checked in with God, he could have been spared another snare of devils.
But our characteristics run as a common cord across the entire spectrum of our everyday experiences, so if we are given to impulse instead of prayer, it really does not matter whether your reaction is good, bad or indifferent for it would inevitably have impulse as the main driver of all that is said or done. Let’s read:
Matthew 17: 24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Does not your master pay tribute?
25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first comes up; and when you have opened his mouth you shalt find a piece of money: that take and give unto them for me and you.
Therefore, because Jesus observed it was impulse versus prayer with Peter, He encouraged him to pray and Jesus warned him that the habit of not checking in with God will make him a prime target for sudden temptations that come out of the blue without prior notice. Let’s read:
Luke 22: 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
Matthew 26: 31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
33 Peter answered and said unto him, though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
40 And he cometh unto the disciples and finds them asleep, and saith unto Peter, what, could ye not watch with me one hour?
The days in which we are living are such that we will have to be constantly checking in with God through prayer, not only so that God will guide us, but also that he will strengthen us to face trial without folks resorting to impulse.
The characteristic of humility, by which we take time to pray to The Lord for guidance and direction in all situations would translate into a habit of checking in with God constantly. It takes time and a whole lot of practice to wait upon God, as our modus operandi.
But this is exactly what is needed as folks head into choppy, unchartered waters. Last week we got some very bad news, for out of the blue, the finger of God began writing on the wall, much to the chagrin and dismay of those who know what’s coming.
Therefore, now more than ever before, Christians in the remnant church should be asking The Lord to search our souls, to see if there’s the same tendency of impulse versus prayer, that was found in Peter.
It is a very solemn statement we make, that it is not business as usual, for many will have to regroup and rethink and re-pray their plans for the future. Those strategies that we had previously set in stone in our minds, may not cut it now, for disturbing things are happening daily in the shadows.
The following statement gives pause for concern, and should drive us to the throne of grace through prayer, so that God might direct our every step at such a time as this. Let’s read:
[The Great Controversy pp 588] The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of Spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power. And under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.
Thus, the remnant people will be tempted to make impulsive decisions and take actions based upon the bad news of the day, especially if such specific news lines up with eschatological prophecies in the Bible.
Thus, to stave off what could potentially be a mass exodus to the woods, prematurely, Christ has given us a specific sign to look for, and when it occurs, it will be the final signal to flee. God will guide some persons and families to make their move, before the sign occurs. That’s true.
But the sign given would mark a distinctive turning point in the history of the world and therefore when it happens there will be no turning back whatsoever to those persons who have studied and believed the prophetic utterances in the Bible. Here is the sign. Let’s read:
Matthew 24: 5 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house.
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
[The Great Controversy pp 30] Not one Christian perished in the destruction of Jerusalem. Christ had given his disciples warning, and all who believed his words watched for the promised sign.
After the Romans under Cestius had surrounded the city, they unexpectedly abandoned the siege when everything seemed favorable for an immediate attack.
The besieged, despairing of successful resistance, were on the point of surrender, when the Roman general withdrew his forces, without the least apparent reason. But God's merciful providence was directing events for the good of his own people.
The promised sign had been given to the waiting Christians, and now an opportunity was afforded for all who would to obey the Savior's warning. Events were so overruled that neither Jews nor Romans should hinder the flight of the Christians.
The stated sign has not yet occurred in our day, but we are getting dangerously close. Thus, rather than go into full blown panic mode, and make decisions, and take actions on impulse alone, God is calling His people to pray like never before, so that the habit of checking in with God would come to maturity.
Be very careful of making decisions in the heat of the moment, and be wary of conspiracy theories that will arise from time to time to throw folks off kilt, lest the ghost of David Koresh haunt those who may not be rooted and grounded in Christ. We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that should help us to pray, instead of moving strictly by impulse, for now more than ever, people need The Lord, as the song says. Let’s read:
Psalms 32: 8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with my eye.
9 Be not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusts in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.