“Teach me Your way, O Lord; lead me
in a straight path because of my oppressors.”
-Psalm 27:11
Do you remember seeing someone make a
wrong decision like walking out of a marriage or quitting a job over a petty disagreement?
And you said, “That person isn’t thinking straight!”
Straight thinking cuts through the
core of any issue and sees the whole in perspective. Here are some guidelines:
One: Straight thinking rids your mind
of emotional clutter. Evaluate the factors which color your thinking. One
reason why we don’t think straight is that our thinking is biased by what we
hope to see happen.
Two: Straight thinking faces the
consequences. There are consequences to every decision made. Are you willing to
face the fact? Straight thinking also means facing the consequences of doing
nothing at all. For example, there is a lump in your breast and you fear it
might be cancer. Straight thinking says, “Go find out now while something can
be done about it.”
Three: straight thinking includes
consultation with God your Heavenly Father. God knows the future and He also
knows what will happen. Straight thinking includes God in our lives and the
decisions we make as we ask, “Father, what is Your will?” When we ask that with
sincerity, it is amazing how quickly fuzzy thinking becomes focused and clear.
You see the consequences and choose the right way. With David we cry, “Teach me
Your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors” (Psalm
27:11).
Four: Straight thinking lets you see
where you have gone astray. You are motivated to make corrections and get back
on target. This requires action. Once you see things clearly, it becomes easy
to turn around and head in the right direction.
