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“I had a premonition that was going to occur.” We have all expressed that sentiment at some point regarding an occurrence or an individual. Intuition is the sensation that enables us to comprehend certain things without fully grasping how or why. We encounter strong internal inclinations toward or away from individuals, circumstances, or future choices that we cannot clarify, and frequently, in the discernment of the wise, those inclinations prove to be accurate. Intuition is a divine gift, and, when we discover how to cultivate and reinforce it, intuition can assist us in avoiding disastrous decisions and relationships.
Being created in the likeness of God «So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. », (Genesis 1:27) signifies that we have been fashioned on a different level than the plant or animal realms. We possess a spirit. We can differentiate between right and wrong. We have a conscience that troubles us when we select incorrectly. And we have intuitive suspicions about matters we know very little about. Some individuals are inherently more intuitive than others, but we can all enhance this gift to some degree by simply attuning to it. A woman encountering a man for the first time may have an intuitive sense that he is deceitful and lecherous, even though nothing in their interaction revealed that. When she acts on that intuition and it is validated, she can reinforce it by deliberately tuning in to it more frequently and heeding its cautions. A man may be ready for a business merger, but intuition informs him there is more to the situation, so he postpones it only to discover he was correct. And he is extremely grateful he listened to his intuition.
Nevertheless, one’s sentiments can be mistaken, and not all internal inclinations should be followed. Proverbs 16:25 states, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” A liTo not surrender to the lordship of Jesus is easy prey for Satan’s suggestions. What may feel like intuition can just as easily be one of the enemy’s “fiery arrows” «above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. », (Ephesians 6:16). Because of our sin natures, we are prone to error and poor judgment. If relying only upon our own powers of discernment, we can be led astray.
Judges 21:25 describes such a time in Israel’s history: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (ESV). When everyone does what seems right to them, society crumbles into anarchy. Our viewpoints are skewed, selfish, and influenced by evil suggestion when they are not subject to the wisdom of God. The Bible speaks often about seeking wisdom as the chief ambition, and, when we do, our intuition can be a safeguard against tragic mistakes (Proverbs 2:3-5;4:7;Ecclesiastes 7:12;Psalm 111:10).
For a Christian, intuition can be greatly enhanced by the Holy Spirit. He is the fountain of wisdom and understanding. Those who “walk in the Spirit” « This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. », (Galatians 5:16,25) «If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. », (Galatians 5:16,25) have the privilege of God’s own perspective on many life decisions as He guides us through His Word. We can fine-tune this ability to hear God by spending time in His Word, in worship, and in meditation. A. W. Tozer, in his classic work The Pursuit of God, writes, “Why do some persons ‘find’ God in a way that others
Do you know what made these individuals stand out? The key quality they all shared was spiritual receptivity. There was something within them that was open to heaven, something that drew them closer to God.” This spiritual receptivity is a trait that can enhance intuition to the point where we can live righteously in the sight of God (Philippians 2:15;1 Thessalonians 3:13;Job 1:1).
David “sat before the Lord” «Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? », (2 Samuel 7:18), enjoying His presence and calming his spirit. We hear God speaking to our spirits when we quiet our minds enough to reflect on His Word. As we seek God’s guidance and pray for direction, He encourages us to have faith that we possess the wisdom we seek «If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. », (James 1:5). By following our God-given intuition, we proceed in the way that appears wisest, trusting that the Lord is guiding our steps «The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: And he delighteth in his way. », (Psalm 37:23). When our intuition is grounded in God’s Word, surrendered to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and in harmony with God’s wisdom, it can shield us from mistakes and help us stay on the right path (Proverbs 4:26;Proverbs 15:21;Isaiah 26:7).
