Procrastination

After a lengthy hiatus from blogging I am going to try to get back into a faithful posting to this blog. 

What better topic to return with than, PROCRASTINATION!... I hope you enjoy!

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Have you ever needed to do something, but just could not get going?  I feel like that almost every day.

                                                    

          Most of us live our lives like we watch television - the program really is not that good, but we just cannot get motivated enough to get up and change the channel. 

James wrote that it is not enough to know what you need to do, but you must be a doer (James 1:22).

If we know what is good to do and we don’t do that thing, let’s face it that becomes sin (James 4:17).

Jesus said the blessings come from doing that which we know must be done (John 13:17).

Below are five principles that can help you get out of your rut and into action. 

          1.  Stop talking and decide to do it. 

Solomon said, "In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury."  (Prov. 14:23). 

We all are filled with good intentions - "I need to lose weight,"  "I need to start going to church,"  "I need to do my homework." 

The problem comes in doing it. We are a nation of big talkers, but the successful people are the doers.

Even in the spiritual realm, many people have good intentions, but they carry them to the grave.

          2.  Set a deadline. 

Making a starting date and a completion date gets you moving.  It puts the "onus" on you to carry through with your commitment. 

Without setting a deadline, there is no motivation to action.

          3.  Learn to master your moods. 

"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." (Prov. 16:32). 

Often we do not distinguish between "I cannot" and "I do not want to."  If you only pray, study the Bible or even jog when you feel like it, you can rest assured that Satan will make certain that you will not “feel like it”.  Self-control is vital. 

          4.  Burn your bridges behind you. 

Do not leave another way open.  Do not allow yourself the luxury of backing out.  Leave your only choice open as the one which will make you move ahead.

Don’t be the double-minded man (James 1:8). Double-mindedness leads to nothing but instability. Be decisive and move forward!

          5.  Take the first step. 

This is the hardest part, isn't it?  NASA says the rockets we launch to outer space require the majority of the fuel to get the rocket the first 30 feet off the ground. That is the hardest part of all for us too. Even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Consider the faith it took for the priests to step into the water as Joshua commanded them to begin the crossing of the Jordan River. Yet remember the results (Josh. 3:17).

Too often we think everything is dependent upon our strength and ability to cross the “rivers” of life but we need to remember we are taking that step of Faith in the strength of the Lord! Just like the priests we mentioned above we can see the awesome power of God as we take the steps He orders (Psalm 37:23) and stand in His strength!