Slowing Down . . . Scripture References

Waiting on the Lord

If we move through life too fast and fail to slow down and appreciate life, we will miss out on what God has in store for us.  We must wait on Him and let him guide us.

The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. – Lamentations 3:25 (KJV)

Be still before the LORD 
   and wait patiently for him; 
do not fret when people succeed in their ways, 
   when they carry out their wicked schemes. – Psalm 37:7

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. – Psalms 25:5 (KJV)

Since ancient times no one has heard, 
   no ear has perceived, 
no eye has seen any God besides you, 
   who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. – Isaiah 64:4

but those who hope in the LORD 
   will renew their strength. 
They will soar on wings like eagles; 
   they will run and not grow weary, 
   they will walk and not be faint. – Isaiah 40:31

But you must return to your God; 
   maintain love and justice, 
   and wait for your God always. – Hoseah 12:6

Be still, and know that I am God - Psalm 46:10

Avoiding the Routine

The danger of not slowing down and waiting on God is that we can make acts of worship into routine, making it less significant.  This is similar to the problems Jesus addressed with the Pharisees and Paul referred to in his remarks about the law (look in the gospels and Paul’s letters for examples).  It is important to make love and faith apart of our efforts at spiritual growth (worship).

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. – Corinthians 13:1-3

You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”^[

Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”  Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. – Galatians 3:1-14

Trusting God’s Better Plan

We all like to have control, which is a part of our drive to move forward.  We need to stop and not get caught up in our own plans, because God’s will prevails.  We need to be open to God’s path.

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, 
   and he will establish your plans. – Proverbs 16:3

In their hearts humans plan their course, 
   but the LORD establishes their steps. – Proverbs 16:9

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, 
   but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. – Proverbs 19:21

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11
In him we were also chosen,^[a] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. – Ephesians 1:11,12

Conclusion

It’s time to relax, calm down, take a breath, and trust God.  We can’t move through life so fast that we miss out on all the important details. If we make life a routine, worship becomes less significant, because it is only an act.  We need to wait on God, because He has a plan for us and it is better than our own. We need to slow down and trust Him.