Hasty Sin

Be quick to listen, slow to speak...sigh.  I need this verse tattooed on  my forehead.  Too many times have I leaped before looking.  Countless times I have overcommitted or said yes without first praying.   My insecurities or pride leads me hastily to have favor with man instead of THE MAN!
Haste is an enemy of our spiritual walk.  It is synonymous with hurrying, scrambling, impetuousness, impatience, carelessness, and thoughtlessness.  The big problem here is that we are arrogant about haste.  I have caught myself bragging about how busy I am, as if this makes me important or sought-out.

I battle with this sin.  I will take the time to arrange the monthly calendar to guard our family time from being too busy.  Our family time is precious and fleeting.  But little by little, the calendar gets filled up as the days pass by.  Why do things seem like a good idea at the time, but later you ask yourself, 'what was I thinking'?
Haste leads to money being spent on impulsive decisions.  Haste makes you gain weight (really, it does).  Haste makes for bad decisions that need attention or fixing later.  You apologize more when you're hasty.  Haste weakens us in our spiritual journey.  Our hasty decisions are not God's best!

God's best requires us to seek him out and that takes TIME.  Training in righteousness is not a quick-fix road.  Reflecting on the peace of God, the kingdom of heaven, and taking every thought captive is the armor we need to combat this sin.  It is not bigger ears we need to listen with; it is thoughtful, reflective ears we cultivate through our well-spent time with God.  God is not hasty, God is quite content with telling us to wait on something that we are praying about-have you ever noticed that ? :)
 I just love quiet spirited people.  They exude a contentment that crowns them with wisdom.

Proverbs 29:20  "Do you see a man who speaks in haste?  There is more hope for a fool than for him."

Proverbs 21:5  "The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty."

Diligence is the key component to our armor against this sin.  Diligence takes work and self-control.  Give yourself permission to not answer right away.  If you feel compelled to answer, simple reply with, "I will pray about that."  God desires us to seek him first in all aspects of our lives.  Be quick to listen, slow to speak...
Write it on the tablet of your heart, it is guaranteed to strengthen you and your relationships, help you lose weight, and expand your checking account!

Blessings,
E.W.