To Go Fast, You Must Slow Down

I. Introduction: Auto racers know an important secret to getting the top speed on most racetracks. Depending on the racetrack, there are many curves the driver must navigate each lap. As the driver negotiates the turns, he must manage his speed so that he does not lose control or wear out his tires too quickly. An inexperienced driver will often speed into a curve, slam on the brakes, upsetting the delicate balance of the car and often must take an undesirable driving line. The more experienced driver will slow down properly before each turn so he can take the best possible driving line and control his overall speed. He will beat the “pedal-to-the-metal” inexperienced driver every time because he knows the great racing secret: “To go fast, you must slow down.” This racing advice would help us in our lives as well.

II. We are often running too fast

A. We have many demands on us

B. Most jobs are no longer 8am-5pm hours.

1. We have mobile phones where our fellow employees and customers can reach us at any time of the day.
2. Employees and customers can email work to us that we can access from home.
3. Many companies cannot afford adequate staffing so one person is often doing the work that two or more people used to do.
4. We often feel that if we do not keep up the pace, we will be left behind, fall behind, or be replaced, so we must keep up the speed.
5. Some will field work calls and emails on vacation; a time that used to be a complete separation from work.
6. Some will have to read industry material, business books, etc. at home to become better in business.

C. Our family lives are often as busy and demanding as work

1. Children’s lives can have many demands
   • Kids are often involved in several activities that require the parents to shuttle them, and sometimes their friends, to practices, games, performances, and other events.
   • In addition to the practices and events themselves, there are often fund raising and other support activities that we must participate in.
   • Kids in school need help with homework and transportation to extracurricular activities.
   • Many parents want to help the school and will work with the children’s teachers, the PTO, and attend school events.
2. Running a home and maintaining a house demands our attention
   • We must pay the bills, reconcile the checking and credit card accounts, file the taxes, and manage other paper work.
   • We want to spend time alone with our spouse developing that relationship.
   • We want to spend time with the kids and nurture them.
   • We want to be involved in the work of the church.
3. Even personal growth and enrichment takes time
   • We have the potential to do much but limited time.
   • We would like to grow spiritually; to develop a closer relationship with God and to have joy and peace in Christ.
   • We have hobbies that we want to enjoy that require time.
   • We want to read good books, enjoy good movies, build things, create things—in short, we would like to have some fun amid the demands of our lives!

III. Perspective

A. Though all of these things are good and necessary, we often become frustrated that there is so much to do and so little time.

B. We must manage our time to accomplish what needs to be done, but we must also make sure that we do not neglect the important things.

IV. We must slow down to make real progress

A. Slow down to pray

1. We often have good intentions to pray often but allow many things to interfere.
2. “Sweet Hour of Prayer” can be a song title that fills us with guilt than a description of our prayer life.
3. We need prayer in our frantic lives: Colossians 4:2: “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.”
4. No one had more important work than Jesus did, yet He often prayed.
   • He made a time and place to pray, Luke 22:39 (Mount of Olives)
   • He prayed all night before choosing the apostles, Luke 6:12.
   • Francis of Sales said, “Every Christian needs a half hour of prayer each day, except when he is busy, then he needs an hour.”
   • Martin Luther said, “I am so busy now that if I did not spend two or three hours each day in prayer, I would not get through the day.”
   • If we want peace, we must have prayer, Philippians 4:6.

It relieves anxiety. It brings peace.

Do we believe James 5:16: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much?”

B. Slow down to study and meditate

1. In the past, we have discussed the importance of studying in order to give an answer for the hope within us and to defend the truth against false doctrine.
2. We must also study in order to enrich our knowledge of God Himself and develop a closer relationship with Him.
   • In Colossians 1:9-10, Paul wanted them to grown in the knowledge of God’s will but also of God Himself.
   • We need to spend some time reading and thinking about God.
   • Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God.”
   • Meditation and contemplation is so essential to developing a deep-rooted faith, yet if we do not plan for it we will find little time to do it.
   • We must schedule time for spiritual growth and keep the appointment.
   • Resolve to devote more time to prayer and contemplation of God’s word this year.

V. Conclusion: The lumberjack who is sharpening his axe is not wasting time. Time spent in prayer and contemplation is never wasted. Remember, we must slow down, so we can go fast.