A Spiritual Blink

It happens so fast, (in about 3/10ths of a second), so often (about 17,000 times a day), and so automatic that we rarely notice it. Blinking contributes to the health and protection of our eyes, and the best part about it is that it usually just happens without us having to think about it!

What if we were to develop spiritual blinks? I know that generally our response to God is to be conscious submission of mind, soul, and body, but what if we were so in tune with God that, like a blink, we automatically choose what contributes to the health and protection of our soul?

Thinking without thinking. Our brains cause us to blink without having to go through a conscious reasoning process. What if our minds are so renewed in Christ (Ep 4:23), so trained by the Word of God, that it can be said that we have the “mind of Christ” (1 Co 2:16). While this includes our reasoning like Him, it goes deeper – we will think and respond like Jesus in an instant, when there is no time to stop, go to Scripture, and study through it. We will respond like Him.

Real life. Usually, it would be too late to tell our eyes to blink and eye damage would occur. Daily life rarely waits for spiritual decisions. There are constant unexpected situations, pressures, and consequences where we have to rely on our “transformed” and “renewed” minds (Ro 12:2) to have a prepared response or the presence of mind to refuse to act until we are convinced that a response is good and godly (Ro 14:23; 1 Th 5:21).

Good habits. Ending bad habits is good, but we desperately need good habits (positive or righteous spiritual thoughts and actions which become natural and automatic for us). We develop these by repeated and consistent exposure to the truth of Scripture. At first, application may seem difficult, awkward, even impossible, but eventually it can become the core of who we are. When God’s word fills our minds and hearts, decisions are then already made before temptation, before life throws something unexpected at us. We will automatically respond with a spiritual blink which protects and strengthens us.

Warning. Blinking is not supposed to interfere with or replace rational thinking. We have to remember that automatic spiritual responses are only as good as we have trained them. Even a hint of a “carnal mind” can cause a decision or response that is opposed to God and His will (Ro 8:5-7). So, we must constantly train our minds, correct when needed, while consciously making every effort to “…grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”  
(2 Pe 3:18).                  dd