Proverbs 19.2
“Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.”
Wise people press pause and think before they respond. Foolish people are impetuous and act impulsively. Wisdom dictates that you pause and think before responding. Indeed, it is foolish — even dangerous — to react without thinking.
Proverbs provides great insight, warning repeatedly about reacting impulsively: “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 29.20). We could just as easily say, “Do you see a man who is hasty in his actions? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
Impulsive reaction is the realm of the old nature. It is foolish. It is what the Enemy wants us to do. Thoughtful, intentional response is the realm of our new nature in Christ. It is wise. It is what the Lord wants us to do.
Think of the surgeon. The commercial pilot. The customer service rep. The mom dealing with an emotional teenage son/daughter. The husband and wife having an argument. The business leader making an important decision. In all these circumstances, it is imperative to be calm, focused, and self-controlled (prautes).
Press pause is wisdom in action because it gives you time to gain clarity about the Event you are experiencing, the Outcome you are pursuing, and options for how to Respond. If you don’t press pause, you make yourself highly vulnerable to reacting on the basis of impulse or autopilot.
Wisdom dictates that we build a “Press Pause” discipline into our lives. To do otherwise is to invite disaster. Before you respond, stop, think, and gain clarity.
