I’m a procrastinator. I struggle with it every day and I’m not proud of it. I’ve learned over time that procrastination costs. Sometimes it costs a lot.
For instance, once I forgot about a court date for a traffic ticket. I kept putting off scheduling a new court date or paying the fine and it eventually cost me an extra $400. You would think I would never put important things off again. But I still find myself procrastinating. And sadly it spills over into my spiritual life as well.
Sometimes I wonder how many blessings I’ve lost out on because of this bad habit? More importantly, have others been robbed of blessings because I didn’t take action immediately?
On the surface, it seems like such a small thing to put off calling that person, cooking a meal or offering to run an errand. It doesn’t seem so bad to forget to pray for someone today when I can add them to the list tomorrow. But how do I know that God doesn’t need me on the phone, in the kitchen, in that car, or on my knees today? I don’t.
God speaks specifically to me, to us, about procrastination. He tells us not to do it. Period. The end. If we can do it, do it now. If we have it, give it today. The gray area procrastinators like me look for just isn’t there.
Tomorrow is my favorite day and later is my favorite time. But if I want to become more godly, I have to embrace today and now. And there’s a funny thing I’ve realized. When I miss out on blessing others, I miss out on being blessed myself. I don’t want to let procrastination rob me and others. I hope you don’t either.
Memory Verse:
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back tomorrow; I’ll give it to you’ – when you already have it with you.”
– Proverbs 3:27-28 (NIV)
Prayer Prompt:
“God, help me to stop procrastinating. I want to do the things I need to do and when You ask me to do them. May my obedience be immediate….”
Contributing Writer:
Marietta Taylor
Such a powerful, convicting and encouraging post! Well done.
As I read this I thought of what Paul said about not using the freedom we have in grace allow us to continue sinning. Instead we must put off the old man and use the freedom we have in grace to serve others. Yes, God will forgive when we procrastinate, but He shouldn’t have to (this makes me say, “OUCH”).
Marietta, I’m finding myself becoming more of procrastinator these days, which is not something I like. While putting things off till later may seem like a small matter, we really do not the larger impact it plays because we do not have the benefit of seeing the whole picture. Thanks for sharing.