Welcome to day three of round two of the 7-40 Challenge. Today has been exhausting—a true test of endurance. Yet, despite the fatigue, I’m staying focused on my goals, holding myself accountable to the path I’ve set.

My heart is heavy today, burdened by the turmoil unfolding in the national news. I won’t dive into specifics here, but if you’ve seen the headlines, you can likely sense the source of my sadness. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and their tragic loss.

A thought on goals

Working toward these goals isn’t always a joyride—I’ll be honest about that. Some tasks are deeply rewarding, while others feel like a slog. Still, they’re worth the effort. One goal I carried from round one into this round is reading for at least 30 minutes daily. So far, I’ve finished three books: two I’d read before and one that was new to me. I’m now on my fourth, Never Play It Safe by Chase Jarvis. I’m familiar with Jarvis’s work, but I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book when I started listening to it (audiobooks help me fit reading into my busy days).

I’m drawn to motivational content—books that inspire me to grow, act, and push beyond my current limits, whether for this challenge or life in general. In Never Play It Safe, Jarvis outlines seven tenets for living with purpose: taking risks, avoiding the trap of playing it safe, and achieving what you’ve set out to do. So far, though I am only through three of the chapters, it’s been a compelling read, though I’ve found myself wrestling with some of his ideas.

This brings me to tonight’s reflection: we don’t have to agree with everything an author says to find value in their work. It’s possible to glean powerful insights—nuggets of truth that resonate—while setting aside what doesn’t align with our perspective or values. I’m experiencing this with Jarvis’s book right now.

In his first chapter, “Attention,” I’m fully on board. Jarvis emphasizes the importance of giving laser-focused attention to the tasks at hand. Setting aside distractions to pursue your goals with intensity is critical, and I’m applying this principle daily.

The second chapter, “Time,” was thought-provoking but trickier for me to grasp. Jarvis suggests that time isn’t just a fleeting resource; it can be manipulated or even expanded. As someone who views time as finite, I initially struggled with this concept. But I believe he’s driving at how focused attention (from the first chapter) alters our perception of time, making it feel like it stretches or contracts based on our immersion. My takeaway? Deep focus helps us maximize the time we have, turning hours into productive breakthroughs.

It’s the third chapter, “Intuition,” where I’m hitting some cognitive dissonance. Jarvis argues that sometimes, despite advice from others pushing us toward a certain path, we know deep down it’s not right. He suggests intuition can guide us in these moments. I’d counter that unless you have significant experience in a given area, what feels like intuition might just be confusion or bias. In such cases, seeking wise counsel is essential. As Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed” (ESV).

As a Christian, my perspective on guidance is rooted in my faith. I believe God is actively involved in my life because I’ve accepted Jesus as my Savior. Through the Holy Spirit, sent as a guide, and through my relationship with God—built on Bible study and prayer—I receive guidance toward the right path when I’m still, seeking, and grounded in Scripture. Proverbs 11:14 reinforces this: “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety” (ESV). For me, intuition isn’t some mystical inner voice; it’s either divine guidance or wisdom gained from experience.

Relying solely on gut feelings without self-awareness or authenticity can be misleading. As Francis Bacon wrote in his Essays (1625), “Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted… but to weigh and consider.” This applies to intuition, too: we must test our instincts against experience, counsel, and truth.

I know not everyone shares my spiritual or philosophical views, and that’s okay. I can only speak from my own experience and testimony: God has made Himself real to me, and I trust He’ll lead me when I seek Him. So, for me, what Jarvis calls intuition is better described as divine guidance or hard-earned experience.

What do you think? When you read a book, do you accept it all at face value, or do you sift through the ideas, keeping what resonates and setting aside the rest? How do you approach intuition or guidance in your life? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear your perspective.

Onward to day four!