Looks More Like a Puma

You know when God’s telling you to do something? I don’t. I admit: I really don’t feel like I have a good grasp on what God’s voice sounds like. And that’s all it takes - just that little doubt for that other voice to say, “ah, let’s not”, and now I’m not doing whatever it is that God is telling me to do. But I discovered recently that the question you need to be asking yourself at this point is (and this is going to sound bad) does it really matter?

Even if it’s not God - is there a good reason not to do whatever it is you’re being prompted to do? If you suspect the voice to be God’s, the idea is probably a good one, regardless of the source. So the new rule is: if you have the faintest suspicion that God is telling you to do something, and you have no good reason not to do the thing in question, then just do it!

Coupla cautions:

1. Don’t confuse miserable excuse with good reasons. Have no doubt - you will have some reason not to do whatever it is. Chances are, though, it’s not a good reason.
2. This algorithm only works in one direction. I’m not going to tell you that God will never ask you to do something which you have a good reason not to do. And God always trumps your good reasons. So this rule can only be used to help you to action, never to help you to inaction.

So that’s what happens when a computer scientist thinks about spiritual matters - you get heuristics for recognizing God’s voice.