Step on the Brakes!

I was asked to speak to our church's youth group recently with the topic "Why Wait?", one of the series of teachings that they had during February, the "love month".
As I driving and going through traffic, and having to struggle with undisciplined drivers and selfish drivers (like me, hehe.  I realized that through my years of driving that I'm just as selfish and reckless as the next driver), a perfect illustration for my introduction came to mind - why is it that drivers do not want to slow down when the traffic light is yellow, or do not want to give way to another car entering their lane, or when in an intersection?
It's because we don't like stepping on the brakes.  We don't want to slow down.  We don't want anyone hindering the speed we're in, changing our pace.

It's the same thing in a Christian's life.  Why is it that there are many Christians who don't pray for God's will, who just jump into a situation with a "bahala na" attitude, and who are willing to face the consequences just in case their decision ends up a mistake.  We don't want to "step on the brakes".  When our emotions tell us something - that you like a guy or girl, or that this job is right for you, or this is the trip you want to take, or this is the car you want to buy...you don’t want anyone messing around with that emotion, with that feeling that you have that you believe, from the bottom of your heart, is the right one for you.  We don’t want to slow down.  We don’t want to change our pace.  So, we don’t step on the brakes.
We don’t pray about it, we don’t ask for counsel from other believers, we just do what we want to do.
We don’t pray, asking God to confirm in our hearts, in some divine way, that what we are doing is what He wants us to be doing.

The reason why that big pedal to the left of the gas or acceleration pedal is so that, when we have to, we step on the brakes.  It’s for our protection.  It’s to make sure that when we have to slow down, or stop the car, stepping on the brake pedal does it for us.

Waiting upon the Lord is the “brake pedal” of our heart.  When our will or emotions tell us that something is right or beneficial for us, we don’t just rush to do it or get it...we slow down, we step on the brakes and ask for confirmation.
We don’t just “follow our heart”, because our hearts are not reliable

Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV)

⁹The heart is deceitful above all things 

and beyond cure.

Who can understand it?

If your life has been bought through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, through your faith, then you have been given a new heart, a heart indwelt by the Holy Spirit Himself.
And, we have  now become an adopted child of God.  And when you are His child your life is completely in His hands.  He has become sovereign over your life.
Not only that, but knowing that you were once an enemy of God, rebelling against His commands and will, and through your faith in Christ you have now become His servant - then, His will, His commands become of utmost priority.  We live for His will.
It is because of this that you wait upon the Lord, you step on your brakes, just to make sure that you are headed in the right direction.

So, brother or sister in Christ, don’t be afraid to step on the brakes, to wait upon the Lord.  Before making any major decision in your life - whether it’s a relationship, a financial decision, or a family decision, step back for a while and pray.  Meditate on God’s Word to see if your decision goes against any of His teachings.  Seek counsel from fellow believers.  And seek His peace.

Proverbs 19:2 (NIV)

²It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, 

nor to be hasty and miss the way.

 Psalms 27:14 (NIV)

¹⁴Wait for the LORD; 

be strong and take heart

and wait for the LORD.