THAT Day. . .Be Prepared

School has, is and will present trials and tribulations in my life.  The workload seems near impossible to complete, knowledge too much to process and sleep yet to be desired.  On top of the day to day steps taken toward graduation, one thing remains the worst for this woman. . .test day!  Anxiety hits like a ton of bricks.  The unknown of which questions will be chosen from an endless NCLEX bank increases the pressure.  I study for hours, read, type, read, process information and did I mention read!  Still, never feel prepared for THAT day. 

I decided to approach the mountain differently this semester.  I altered study habits, enhanced listening skills and took advantage of electronic devices.  While examining the reason I choose the wrong answers, I noticed a common denominator.  My gut told me one thing, while my head reasoned and talk me into another choice.  Guess who was right? 

My gut. . .yet, I went with my head; therefore, learned to avoid second guessing myself and choose the one answer that comes first to mind.  It is true.  My grades would increase by at least 5% if I went with my gut.  How can we develop a gut feeling?

Reading builds knowledge.  Observation provides examples.  Listening gives guidance.  Doing enhances skills.

Reading the book, Power Points and materials provided builds the foundation needed to analyze questions and bring the answer to the forefront.  Reading strengthens the feeling in our gut to choose correctly.  Observation provides examples to apply when THAT day comes.  We can take the actions and words observed by an experienced individual and apply it to the question asked.  Listening in class gives guidance in choosing correctly.  Doing a task enhances the skill and plants a concrete gut feeling with firsthand experience to lead to a correct answer.

Maybe the test faced does not come in paper form or require a No.2 pencil to fill in those annoying little rectangles.  A syllabus may not exist to warn you of such a test.  No preparation could come due to the ‘pop quiz’ which blindsided your day.  Or COULD preparation be made?  How can we develop a gut feeling to help us in life’s toughest tests?

Reading builds knowledge.  Observation provides examples.  Listening gives guidance.  Doing enhances skills.

Pick up a copy today of the greatest Book, filled with Truth to build the foundation needed to answer correctly.  Place Truth in the forefront.  Cool thing. . .only One Source exists for life’s answers.  It does not cost hundreds of dollars, can be found at a nearby store and spells out answers clearly.  Reading His Word strengthens gut feelings and overpowers our mind.  Observation provides examples to follow and apply to any test.  God uses people all around you as vessels to teach and guide.  Pray for a mentor to come and provide an example worth following.  Begin by observing the greatest example provided in the Book you just purchased and began reading. . .God’s only Son.  Remember with each question faced. . .the answer is whatever Jesus would do!  Listening to God’s Word and hearing His responses guides the day to day steps leading to completion.  Doing what He commands in the Book you purchased and began reading enhances your skills needed to answer any question faced.  Doing what Jesus would do, found in the Book you purchased and began reading, strengthens our gut feeling when That day comes.

And THAT day will come.  In this world we will have trials and tribulation. . .but take heart, He has overcome this world.  He answered all the questions, completed the test and passed with flying colors.  So, need an answer key?. . .turn to His Word.  Need a gut feeling to override the reasoning of your thoughts.  Turn to His Word and fill that gut with knowledge, examples, guidance and skills to pass with flying colors.  The enemy prowls around, plays with your thoughts and works diligently to convince you of the wrong answer.  Well, get behind us Satan, you are but a stumbling block. . .

Keep praying harder than the devil can work.

Sheree Craig