Slow It Down!

I had an extraordinary week. Life-changing. Huge changes. Exciting. But I can't tell you about it for a few days. You'll just have to wait. Sorry about that.

But I did learn something very important:
If you get to the point where you are so excited about something and think you know exactly what to do and you think you can "handle it from here" be careful! Slow Down. You might be on the verge of a big mistake.
I was going to do something in quick fashion. I was going to take control and let my emotions guide me to a wrong decision. I was spun up. My emotions were whirring. I was having a hard time getting centered on Jesus.

I love what my Pastor says:

Slow Down
Listen for God
Listen to God
Do what He says.

I have found this is so effective in getting to God's will.

Last year I went on a missions trip to Honduras, I was leading a large team there to share the gospel. We were believing God to see miracles of all kinds. Well I got off the plane, got my luggage, trying to lead this large group, making sure everyone got through customs, finding our contact, meeting with him and making sure everyone was safe. There were lots of people around when suddenly a blind man being led by his son came up to me asking for help. Begging for money. This man wasn't just blind, he had no eyeballs. I've never seen anything like this before. Because of all the activity I was wound up. Confronted with this situation I believed the Lord wanted to heal the man. Well instead of me doing what my pastor said:

Slow Down
Listen for God
Listen to God
Do what He says.

I just decided OK I need to pray for this guy. So I asked him if he wanted prayer, he agreed so I laid hands on him asking God to give him new eyes and restore his sight. This is not too hard for God, just too hard for us to believe. Well I didn't see new eyes suddenly appear. They may have later - God is faithful to our prayers. But I didn't see the miracle I wanted to see.
Later, I realized that I did that whole prayer on my own. I didn't

Slow Down
Listen for God
Listen to God
Do what He says.

I just did what I thought to do. Duh! Look to God, He has the answers for us.
Don't try to live this life on your own. You're friends with the guy who has all the answers:
Jesus

Love ya
Joe