What is it and why do we do it?
Grabbing the proverbial shovel and digging into what is going to reveal a part of my heart that I would far prefer to stay hidden. God knows it so why share with anyone else? Why? Because what God reveals to me concerning my weakness is what He will use to show His glory. So, let's get shoveling...
Step one: I typed the word procrastination into a Word document and proceeded to open my Microsoft Thesaurus. Several words came up in the list including deferment, postponement, stalling, delay, and putting off.
Step two: Next, I grabbed a dusty old dictionary and checked for spiders before locating my subject's definition.
"to put off intentionally and habitually; to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done"
Oh, thank you, wise Merriam-Webster, for your concise pointing-out that procrastination is not about leaving undone the thing which I may want to do but will get to later; rather, it is putting-off what I should have done.
I used to jokingly say, "I procrastinate on a lot of things except worry. When it comes to worrying, I get a head-start."
First of all, we are called into a relationship with Christ, as believers, and are instructed to not worry. In Isaiah 41:10 we are instructed to not be afraid and encouraged that God will provide strength and protection. The Psalmist writes in 118:6, "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" Then we read in 2 Timothy 1:7, "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
As I dug deeper, asking myself why I have had a lifelong struggle with procrastination, the Holy Spirit revealed to me the dark, dusty corners where my own procrastination was birthed. In those corners I found the father of lies to be continuously whispering words of fear and worry. Keep in mind that procrastination has to do with those things that should have been done. Things that were of timely importance. When left undone, I missed out on potential blessings. I say potential only because I don't know if it was the Holy Spirit's prompting as I didn't do what I needed to, therefore, had I done it I may have received a blessing. I may never know unless it is revealed when I get to Heaven.
I can guarantee this though-- God is telling you to do something that is outside your comfort zone. Most often those things He leads me to do are not just outside my comfort zone; but, I cannot even see them if I stand in my chair and cup my hands over my brow! Pass the binoculars! Notice, the things we do inside our comfort zones seem to have little to no risk of embarrassing us and revealing our weaknesses.
How to get past it?
The absolute first thing each of us must do (and by the way, it is going to put you way outside your comfort zone if you haven't been there yet) is answer God's call to confess your sins and accept His son, Jesus Christ, as your personal Lord and Savior. If what you have been putting off is accepting Christ, then none of what else I have to share with you in the next four posts about procrastination will make any difference in your life.
Putting it off till tomorrow? Till you get ready? Till you think the time is right? Paul writes in 2 Cor. 6:2
"For he says, 'In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."
Today is the day. We are not promised tomorrow (Prov. 27:1).
Don't think it applies to you? Romans 3:23 does not exclude anyone. Not you. Not me.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Coming out of your comfort zone, ceasing the habitual putting-off of the things that are so very important in the course your life will take from this moment forward depends upon your confessing your sins, seeing them as God sees them. They are not simply mistakes or bad decisions. They are sin, rebellion against our Creator.
The first step is a simple one that will give you so very much freedom!
Confess with your mouth. Accept Christ as Lord. Turn away from sin.
Romans 10:9 "...confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Next up...Procrastination: Part 2, What happens when we procrastinate?
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Ed., pg. 990
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