Intuition is one of God's gifts that helps us discern right from wrong and protects us from harm.
Before the Titanic departed on its final voyage in 1912, some passengers, sensing danger, chose not to board. They heard the proclamation UNSINKABLE and felt as if the ship’s builders were shaking their fists at God, claiming invincibility. Their intuition saved their lives.
Intuition results from the subconscious mind taking in everything it sees and hears, comparing it to past experiences, and then giving hunches that can lead to good or bad decisions. We can develop intuition in a way that helps us make wise choices.
In Psalm 27:3, we see a man who considers his problems and intuitively turns to God for help:
Problem: Though an army encamp against me,
Solution: my heart shall not fear;
Why: God is his protection (Psalm 18:12; Deuteronomy 31:6).
Problem: Though war arises against me.
Solution: Yet I will be confident.”
Why: God is his stronghold, his deliverer (1 Samuel 17:37, 45-47).
David’s instinct to seek God first stemmed from his knowledge of and love for God (1 Kings 14:8; Psalm 63:1-3). His faith never wavered because he knew firsthand:
“The LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6, ESV).
David’s subconscious mind compared what it saw (the army closing in) with what it knew (war was imminent) and what it remembered (God had saved Israel and him before, and God had been a source of wisdom, discernment, clarity, and direction). When he saw danger, David instinctively turned to God.
As in David’s case, intuition can help us, but we are warned not to rely on it alone.
Bias, faulty assumptions, new or difficult problems, desires, pride, hunger, and fatigue can all affect how we process what is happening around us. Anxiety can also masquerade as intuition. Scripture also warns us that, because we are human, we see only part of the picture, whereas God sees the whole (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Beyond intuition, God gives Christians another gift—the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
When a person receives Christ as their Savior, they receive the Holy Spirit, who dwells within them, guides them into all Truth, and teaches them the things of God (John 3:5-8, 14:26; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 2:10-12).
Intuition can be a wonderful gift from God when we cultivate it with Him in mind. Like David, we need to make it a habit to seek God first in all things. When we do, God’s light will steady our steps, dispel any confusion, calm our fears, and direct our paths.
Intuition can guide us, but only God’s light keeps us steady. May we turn to Him first, trusting God’s wisdom over our own.
Closing Prayer: Father, calm our fears, clear our confusion, and direct our paths today. Amen.
