A Hasty Heart

Do you ever find yourself running from one task to the next?

Are you constantly telling your children to 'hurry up'?

Do you find yourself motivated to check off everything on your to do list at the expense of yourself and others?

Do you get easily angered with those around you such as your husband or children because they are not moving as fast as you'd like?

(Yes, I'm guilty too!)

"God's not impressed with hastiness. He says in Proverbs, "The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want" (21:5). And, "Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him" (29:20). And once more, "He that hasteth with his feet sinneth" (19:20)

We live in a fast-paced world. If you don't want to lose what you have, if you don't want to be a fool, and if you don't want to live in sin, it's important to learn the difference between haste and speed.

You'll know when you are being hasty if you stop for a moment and check yourself with a few questions: Do you sense a tension in your stomach? Are you trying to accomplish more than time allows? Are you in such a hurry that you are making foolish mistakes?...If these are your experiences, you can be sure that your actions will not lead to abundance. Instead, you'll make foolish decisions and miss a peaceful walk with God.

Hasty people miss God because God is never in a hurry. He doesn't change His pace to walk with people. He requires people to change their pace to walk with Him. A man rushing through life, running over everything and everyone that gets in his way, will not hear the voice of God. His hurried efforts create too much chaos for him to enjoy God's presence."

-Bob Shultz, Created for Work

Our hastiness will drive out the love in the work we were called to do in Titus 2--loving our husbands and loving our children. This is not what the Lord intended for us---we must discipline ourselves to slow down, enjoying the moments with our precious family and not taking time with them for granted. The to-do list will always be around, even after they are gone. This does not mean that we are to be lazy or sluggish in our work , the Lord does not advocate that either and clearly defines such foolishness as sin. It is good to be diligent workers but not exchanging what is meant to be best for less. We are to not have a hasty heart, because at the root of this hasty heart we will only find sin---pride, selfishness, putting ourselves first, etc. which will develop into more sin---anger, resentment, bitterness and so forth.

So, ladies, let us discipline ourselves today to slow down and have a still heart that hears God's voice and not missing the blessing He pours upon our homes and lives.