Principles of the Kingdom (God's Success Principles)

Chapter 17: A final word: SLOW DOWN AND REST!

 "There remains therefore a rest to the people of god."

                                                                           --Paul (Hebrews 4:9)

 I was going to end the book here, but I felt compelled to add this chapter, as I did to add this issue to my ezine, due to a devastating experience that happened to me. Without going into much detail, suffice it to say I was the victim of an internet scam. (I later found out there have several instances of it. It’s called the Nigerian scam.) I realize, looking back, that if I would have stopped and prayed and sought god’s guidance, it would never have happened. Perhaps I should give some details briefly as a warning so you don’t fall prey to this. I was trying to sell some stuff on an internet site and this guy wrote me directly claiming to be from the UK and wanting to buy everything—we kept corresponding and he got my confidence. Then he said his client in Canada owed him money and was going to send the money to me in us funds but it would be more than what I was charging him and I was to send the rest back to him. It ended up that I was sent fake money orders and ended up losing my entire bank account. But to the point: I notice upon reflecting on the whole situation, that one of his tactics was to create a sense of urgency. He would always tell me to do something right away.   He said what I was selling was badly needed in the UK and thus I was to get everything ready to send right away, and put the money orders in the bank right away so they would clear in a day, etc. If I just would have stopped and waited upon the lord, I’m sure I would have realized many things, which would have made me stop and question what I was doing.

Soon after it happened, there was another instance where I realize I should have stopped and waited on the lord also. He kept calling me even after it happened--after I realized what he was doing, and that got me unnerved and then I was almost running out of gas and stopped at a gas station with only $2.00 in my wallet and was trying to call my wife on my cell phone, but couldn’t reach her. I got agitated, wondering how I was going to get enough gas to get all the way home, and forgot all about the new credit card I had in my wallet. And in all my panic I lost my cell phone. You see, when we are in panic mode, our minds are not clear to think of solutions. So there are times when we need to just stop and be quiet before god. He is always with us, but how can we recognize his presence if our thoughts are rushing ahead and screaming? Perhaps, in a sense, this subject could fall under “self-discipline,” but I felt it was weighty enough to deserve a chapter of its own.

We would all do well to head the opening line of that Paul Simon song which says: “slow down, you move too fast. Gotta make th’ morning last.” I must admit that I often fail to practice what I preach. And in that regard, that’s all I’m going to say or think about these two instances. I have to take my own advice and forget what happened and move forward, but to do so slowly. We would all do well to remember the verse “be still and know that I am god.”