Slow Down!!!

It was a beautiful day in July and I was going to visit my boyfriend, John. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was cruising along, radio turned up, windows down, just loving life and living it in full speed.

As I was driving at a rather high speed through this residential neighborhood, I noticed a man working in his yard. As I got closer, he began waving. I thought to myself, "What a nice man, he has such friendly smile." I waved and kept driving full speed headed for John's house.

As I drove closer, the man continued to wave, only his waves were becoming a little more dramatic. But being a teenager and totally self-absorbed, I decided he must just really like me or my car and was just being really friendly. So I waved back again and thought, "Wow, he is a really friendly guy."

About this time his waving got frantic and, "WHAM!!!" I hit a basketball goal that was laying in the middle of the road head on.

I felt so stupid. The man was not waving to be friendly but instead, waving to warn me to slow down or stop because I was headed for an obstacle up ahead.

Do you ever wonder if God must feel like the man in the yard that is waving frantically for us to slow down? He sees the obstacles but we are so busy looking around, listening to the world, and focusing on where we are going, that we totally miss His will for our lives.

I can think of so many times that God has told me to stop, slow down, or just be cautious but because I am on a mission, I ignore his warnings. I sort of wave I as I fly by and acknowledge that He is there but I continue on my own little endeavor. However, every time I choose this path, I hit the obstacle head on and do more damage than I ever imagined.

Deuteronomy 5:32 says "You must obey all the commands of the Lord your God, following His instructions in every detail." This means when He says stop, we should stop. When He says slow down, we should slow down. When He says wait, we should wait. And when He says go, we should go.

Ask God today if there are any areas of your life that are in disobedience with His will. Ask Him if you are going full speed ahead in an area in which he would like for you to slow down. Listen for His answer and then be obedient in your actions.

God loves us and wants the best for us. His ways are perfect and if we are obedient, He will make our lives all that they are meant to be for His glory!!!

Written by: Andi McNair
3/15/07