I was always told a good rule to follow in life is, “When in doubt, don’t.” Yesterday, I heard a variation on this quote that I liked, “If there’s a doubt, there’s no doubt.”
Here’s the example given to apply this quote. When Navy pilots would inspect their planes for safety before the flight, they would say “if there’s a doubt, there’s no doubt.” If there was any concern about whether the plane could fly safely, there is no doubt which means no flying.
So often, when we question if we should or shouldn’t do something, we get caught up on “what if’s” and trying to justify doing something we most likely know we shouldn’t do. If you are having to justify an action that means you have a doubt.
I propose a different approach, don’t spend time trying to “approve” your plan or idea. For big questions, prayer is always a good starting point. What about the everyday actions we take and the words we say, we likely don’t pray before we speak, but we can choose our words and actions carefully and apply the principles in Galatians 5:22.
But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22
Galatians 5:22 has so many applications to our lives. We can apply this principle to things we say and actions we take. It applies if we don’t know the right thing to do. We can ask ourselves would our words or actions meet the Galatians 5:22 standard.
Does this show love?
Does this give or bring joy?
Will this bring peace?
Does this show patience, kindness and gentleness?
Does this show goodness?
Am I being faithful to God and others?
Am I acting with self-control if I do this?
If you honestly ask yourself these questions and you answer no to any one of them, then remember and apply, “if there’s a doubt, there’s no doubt.”
