Procrastination is a real issue for me. I do it ALL THE TIME, but I hate it!!! You should just call me Paul!

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. – Romans 7:15

For me, procrastination is a horrible cycle of laziness, busyness, and overwhelm that leads to putting off things that really need to be done now, but I’m either scared to do them, think they are too hard or really don’t want to do them anyway.

After I’ve placed those items on the backside of the to do list, the feelings of shame, guilt and anxiety set in, only to propel me into a state of craziness that lands me into a panic when the deadlines are only minutes away.

Ugh…. You’d think by 50 years old that I would have learned by now. Nope.

Of course, most of the actions I procrastinate are things that HAVE to be done.  So, wouldn’t it just be better to bite the bullet early??

It’s silly when I think how much freer I would feel if I would just get those arduous tasks off my plate instead of worrying about them until I’m in such a tizzy that I do them under horrible duress with heart palpitations.

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. – Hebrews 12:11

Since I’m trying to change my procrastination habit (hopefully sooner rather than later…haha), I have been doing a short devotional on the subject. The writer made two great points that I want to share:

1. We need to remember that God has already given us all the tools we need to complete the tasks He lays before us.
2. We should release our daily schedules to God so that we will do what He wants WHEN He wants them done.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. – Ephesians 5:15-17

Reading the devotional and other scriptures on procrastination has opened my eyes to my sin of procrastination and how much I need to change this dangerous habit.

It saddens me that I have allowed procrastination to hold me back from not only accomplishing great things I would like to do, but IMPORTANT things that God has placed me on this planet to do.  

However, being the magnificent Heavenly Father that He is, God forgives me and will continue to lead me, teach me and show me His way so that I can live in His love, joy and peace.  

And, it is peace that I don’t have when I procrastinate…so, duh!!! Stop doing it, Meg!!

Break the chains of procrastination with action!!! God wants so much more for us and there is no better time than the present to start!

Some Wisdom for Today: Proverbs 13:4 – The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.