“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding, [or that of artificial intelligence]. Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight.” Prov. 3:5-6, (bracketed part my addition)

Last year, a guy in our youth group told my husband and I why he didn’t make it to the meeting the night before. “I had a test the next day, so I asked my AI if I should go to youth group or study. more for the test. My AI said I could go to youth group anytime. So I stayed home and studied more for the test.” We suggested that his Artificial Intelligence source didn’t have all the information and that it would be better to go the best AI – Almighty Intelligence – the Lord Himself, when making a decision!

Sure, there are more youth group meetings, and his test was the next day. But did he need to study more? And what about the particular youth group meeting he missed? Could there have been something there he really needed to be present for to receive blessing and growth he couldn’t get anywhere or any time else? And, if the Almighty Intelligent One did tell Him to go to youth group meeting, He would also honor that by supplying the knowledge and recall needed for the next day’s exam. Or He’d make sure our youth friend had plenty of time to study as well. Or, if He did tell him to stay home and study more, at least our youth friend would know it was from consulting the Lord vs human, or in this case, machine-made, logic.

Contrast our misguided youth with an older, more mature, friend of ours who does dog-sitting and dog-walking for pay. She told me about a time she couldn’t get into a person’s house to walk their dog because they forgot to leave her a key. So she contacted Support in the pet-care company she’s an independent contractor for. “I’m sure they use AI only, because the answer I got was ‘break a window so you can enter and get the dog.’! I don’t think a person would’ve told me to do that.” For real! Thankfully our friend knew better than to listen to that AI.

How about us? Who are we listening to? Following computerized AI can lead us to something slightly off, or to something innocuously less than the best (such as putting the wrong spice in our soup). Or, as in the case of our dog-sitter friend, it can suggest something which, if followed, would lead to doing something crazy, stupid, and harmful to others and ourselves, not to mention illegal.

Or maybe the Artificial Intelligence could give us a good answer. The point is, we need to use our own God-given sense and intelligence to consider that answer and/or suggestion and decide whether to follow it or not. We don’t have to follow it. Better yet, while using our own intelligence and not-common-enough sense, consult the Almighty Intelligence—the One Who knows all and always puts that knowledge into the context of wisdom. Wisdom equals applying as well as knowing the truth and what’s right. He knows what works best, why it works best, and intends the best for everyone.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, they should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to them.” Jas. 1:5

Ok, that sounds good, but after we ask, how do we know we’re hearing back from Him, versus our own ideas, biases, and desires?

First, does it align with Scripture? The Lord never contradicts Himself. He’d never put in His Word to do or not do something and then tell us otherwise later.

Second, cultivate the kind of relationship with Him where we recognize His voice and can distinguish it from others. My husband is one of eight siblings in his family, including five boys. The “boys”, now men, sound a lot alike and have similar mannerisms that are fun to observe. But even if one of them tried to sound exactly like my husband, he couldn’t fool me. Because I know and love the sound of my sweet husband’s voice so well, I can pick it out from a crowd all talking at once, even a crowd of Tofilon men! As Jesus stated, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” Jn. 10:27

Third, inquire with humility and readiness to follow what He says. Don’t come with our own agenda, looking for confirmation from Him. Ignatius of Loyola, one of the early saints, realized he needed to do this, and today we call it “indifference”—meaning that when he came to the Lord asking for advice about a decision, he came with total openness to whatever the Lord would tell him to do, even if it contradicted his natural inclinations. While we can’t empty ourselves of preferences, we can ask the Holy Spirit to remove our agendas so we can hear the Lord more clearly.

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves”. Gal. 5:16-17

“Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may rely on Your faithfulness. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.” Ps. 86:11

The more we practice going to the Lord and actually listening to Him, the more we’ll recognize, follow, and incorporate His advice.

We can’t lose with Almighty Intelligence. As for the other AI, you can decide whether you want to break a window or drive into the desert, or not.