As a society and as individuals we are in a hurry, aren’t we? We’ve got to get “it” done so we can move on to the next “it”. At the end of the day our self-worth seems to be interconnected with how many boxes we have checked off on the ever growing to do list. Don’t get me wrong, a plan and organization are great tools to maneuver our days but do we own the tools or do the tools own us?

Our spiritual lives are no different. When we start to grow and activate our faith in Jesus we want to do and do and do for Him. Zeal for God and His people is a glorious thing but it is a powerful tool and we should never “do” until we “be”. Let me explain. The world is a chaotic place and moves at such a fast pace. Social media moves words, thoughts, and ideas out into the public sector before we’ve even had time to think. How often is our passion for Jesus used in a reactive way instead of a proactive way. Take, for example, the super popular and addictive trend of the day: to be offended. There is not one thought, action, opinion, or belief that someone isn’t offended by. Some people just become offended because someone else is offended with them. We are constantly bombarded with a fast-paced swirl of angst and chaos.

God has an answer for us. And it will never ever be to follow the crowd. His instructions will always send us in the opposite direction from the world. We were never meant to be like everyone else. Psalm 46:10NIV says, “He says, ‘be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Isaiah 30:15NIV says, “this is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says, ‘in repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.'”

In every single chaotic, dramatic, painful, emotional moment we find ourselves in He tells us to turn in the opposite direction and to be still and quiet. When we are still and quiet we let pride fall away. We let emotions fall away. We let offense fall away. We let Him speak. We yield. We listen. We grow. I pray the holy flames of love and passion for His truth are being stoked in you but I also pray that you let the maturity of yielding and abiding take root in you before you “do”. He will accomplish many things through, us, His people, but only when He tells us where and when to go and where and when to speak. Let’s travel at the speed of zero until He waves that checkered flag.