It’s Time to Stop Procrastinating

“It’s time to stop procrastinating,” I told myself a couple weeks ago. I grabbed my portable vacuum cleaner and a bucket and rag, and I headed to the marina parking lot to clean my car’s interior. The car looked great when I finished the job, and I wondered why I hadn’t kicked procrastination to the curb sooner.

Do you sometimes put off doing something you know needs to be done? C’mon, be honest.

Many reasons to procrastinate

Some folks wait until the last minute to buy a birthday or Christmas gift. Others stall when it comes to doing their taxes. Some put off having a difficult conversation even though it might clear up a misunderstanding.

Some people procrastinate when it involves tackling home repairs or writing their will, digging into that online course for which they registered or starting an exercise program.

We (I) can always find an excuse for not doing what we (I) know we (I) should.

Case in point: I’ve been finding reasons for not going to the gym as regularly as I have in the past.

I’ll go when Sailor-Man is able to join me again, I say. (He’s still recovering from the side-effect fatigue that hit him after having brachytherapy treatment for prostate cancer).

I’ll go when the weather stops raining, I say.

I’ll go when my knees don’t hurt, I say.

One stall after another, and before long I wonder why my body feels stiff and achy.

It’s time to say stop procrastinating. It’s time to move forward and reap the healthy rewards that are waiting.  

Joshua said no to procrastination

The Israelites knew all about putting off what they knew they should do. They’d moved into the Promised Land, but some of the tribes took their time in securing the property allotted to them. 

They’d forgotten God’s promise to fight on their behalf. They’d seen the Canaanites’ iron chariots. They felt significantly under-armored and overwhelmed by the fear of defeat, so they did nothing to take possession of what belonged to them. (Joshua 17:16) 

Others hadn’t secured their property because they hadn’t received their allotments yet. Perhaps the men responsible for doling out the allotments had overlooked them, and they put off asking for their share for fear of appearing over-anxious or greedy.  

Joshua showed up one day and asked them a pointed question: “How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has given to you?” (Joshua 18:3) In other words, what are you waiting for? 

How long will you procrastinate?

Joshua asked his people a great question, and it begs for application to our own situations. 

For me, it’s about my health. Grace—how long are you going to wait before giving your body the care it deserves?

Answer: I’m not going to wait any longer. With God’s help, I will stop procrastinating and take steps to return to the gym at least three mornings each week. I’m tired of feeling stiff and sore. (I’m putting this out there as a form of accountability. Feel free to hold me to it.)

Here are some other applications:

How long are you going to wait before forgiving the person who hurt you?  

How long are you going to wait before saying yes to God’s assignment?  

How long are you going to wait before reaching out to that neighbor who needs a friend?

How long are you going to wait before expressing gratitude for the hard knock you’ve experienced recently?

How long are you going to wait before pursuing the God-given dream in your heart?

Procrastination means missing out

For the Israelites, procrastination meant missing out on the full meal deal God wanted them to enjoy in the Promised Land. The same is true about us unless we stop procrastinating.

I’m missing out on the joy and satisfaction that comes with feeling physically strong.

Withholding forgiveness means missing out on inner freedom. Not accepting God’s assignment means missing out on the joys of experiencing His strength and adequacy. And so it goes. You get the picture, right?

Procrastination always means missing out, but pursuing God’s purpose reaps rewards.

When the Israelites possessed the land, they experienced rest from their enemies. What will we experience when we stop procrastinating to embrace God’s plan and purpose for us?

Remembering Mandisa. “Thank you for ministering to us through your music, sweet sister.” Our loss, heaven’s gain.