Day 62 - Procrastination (Convenience)

Today's thought from last year came after reading Acts chapter 24. You may want to read that chapter before reading my thought so that you understand fully what I am referring to. Once you have read it, read on and enjoy!

"Felix listened to Paul until he reasoned about eternal judgement and got afraid. Rather than face he future by asking Paul what he should do to be saved he sends Paul away saying that he will call for him at a more convenient time. Many people don't want to be inconvenienced by the truth. I also noticed that Felix put off decisions. 'When Lysias comes down…' 'At a convenient time…' And when he leaves office he leaves Paul and still doesn't make a decision because he wants to do the Jews a favor. He should have had Paul do him a favor and find out how to be saved! But he didn't. He put it off and we never hear of him again."

Procrastination is a nasty word. Jokes abound when it comes to the subject but if I could be frank, we will end up being the joke if we let procrastination take over. If you wait long enough life will make your decisions for you.

Don't be like those who float down the river of life going wherever the current takes you. Especially when it comes to important matters like salvation. Felix put it off and we don't know if he ever found that convenient time to look into the things of God again. The Bible tells us that today is the day of salvation.

If you wait to look into family, finances, business, marriage, children, (insert your important matter here...) you will miss out.

I found the cure for procrastination in my own life. It sounds a lot like the old Nike slogan. Do it. Lose the just, do it now. Do it right. Spend the time and the money. Give it the attention it deserves.

How do you combat procrastination? What would you insert in my list of important matters?

Day 8 - Procrastination

"Sometimes...most of the time, if I don't write something down I will lose it. I don't know how many good ideas I've had, sermon notes, songs and thoughts that have been lost because I failed to write it down. Most of the reason I don't get more stuff done is because the simple work gets left undone. Laziness and procrastination are the two deceptively beautiful but really are ugly sisters that hang around and hinder progress. They are like the mythical sirens that call to you in a beautiful form but once they have you will eat you alive."

In my school years I estimated myself to be a professional procrastinator. I could whip out grade A material the night before a paper was due and glance at my notes before a test to get the right answers. As I have grown into the responsibility of the many hats I wear I simply cannot live like that anymore. Dad's and husbands that procrastinate miss out on their families. Business professionals who procrastinate miss out on promotion and wealth. A pastor who procrastinates may be able to whip together a decent message but won't have the wisdom of time spent with the Lord and may lack anointing.

There are a few ways I have found in my personal life that I can overcome procrastination. First of all taking initiative. Looking around and ahead and seeing what needs to be done, taking the bull by the horns and then making it happen. Also, I had to pray and ask God to help me get organized. Finally, just moving on things has helped me. Many times if I don't do it then it won't get done. So I made the decision to just get after things when I have it in mind.

How do you deal with procrastination? Are there systems or attitudes that help with this?