Decide Before You Are Tired

Most of the decisions that shape an ordinary week are made in a hurry. Someone asks for an answer by end of day. A child needs a yes or no before the car door closes. A text arrives that could be read two ways, and a reply is expected. We tend to pray about the big forks in the road and simply react to everything else, which is backwards, because the small reactions are where most of our life actually happens.

James offers a promise with no fine print about the size of the question. If you lack wisdom, ask, and God gives generously. The lesson for ordinary weeks is to move the asking earlier. Ask in the morning for wisdom about the day you can already see coming. Ask before the meeting rather than during the argument. Ask before opening the inbox. A ten-second prayer at the top of the hour costs nothing and changes the posture of everything that follows.

There is a second habit that goes with it. When you are tired, delay. Wisdom asked for and received still needs a mind clear enough to hear it. Many of the words we regret were spoken after nine at night. If a decision can wait until morning, let it wait, and ask again when you wake.