I was in a hurry. I was a little overzealous with the force I used to open an inside door. Thank heavens for the nifty little invention called a doorstop – the rubber-tipped device attached to the wall to prevent damaging contact between an opened door and the wall. It saved me from a hole in the wall and a costly to repair.
I have found myself longing for an equivalent in my spiritual life. There are times when I need a spiritual ‘doorstop’. How often have I spoken too quickly? How many times have I jumped to an erroneous conclusion? Many times I have rushed ahead in a sincere attempt to help, only to have made things worse.
The Bible speaks to the issue of inappropriate haste:
- “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19, NIV).
- “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 29:20).
- “He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him” (Proverbs 18:13).
- “Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who hurries his footsteps errs” (Proverbs 19:2).
Most of us intuitively recognize the truth of the words given above, but fail to implement them in our daily lives. You may be like me – I tend to be a little ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactive) spiritually. There are times when I need a doorstop.
A person is wise to develop a plan that incorporates what is known to be true into daily practice. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22, NIV). A start might be to begin each day by reviewing the scriptures above and punctuating them by prayer. This can lead us to form a spiritual pattern – to God’s glory. A patient and thoughtful approach to each day’s activities is prudent.
Prayer: Lord, I need spiritual doorstops. Help me to intentionally build into my life patience and proper actions that reflect You.
~ Brother Roy
New Hope International Ministries 