Conquering Procrastination To Finish Well!
We all face giants in our lives that are camping out on our destiny, our promise land and are determined to steal, kill and destroy us and our dreams.
John 10:10 (NKJV) The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Jesus came to enable us to live an abundant life.
He came to cause us to fly in the spirit and to thrive, not just survive.
How many of us have settled at times, at least in some areas, for survival mode rather than living our lives in God’s order and under His blessings? I certainly have.
Disclaimer: I know that certain calamitous occasions occur that only allow us to go to survival mode to cope. God gives grace in those situations but all we can do is put one foot in front of the other and do what is essential for us and our families to get through that situation. A friend, Sarah, a nurse from New Castle, had her dream home catch fire and burned down on September 9, 2019. I watched at least on Face Book as they dealt with this disaster. It was amazing to see the church and their friends come alongside them during this terrible time, but Sarah was in “Survival Mode”. I am not talking about something like what happened to this family, but rather our normal, everyday lives, slammed by procrastination, clutter, and putting off those important things because we have accepted “survival mode.”
My message title for today is: Conquering Procrastination To Finish Well! Today is the last Sunday of the year. New Year’s Day is next Wednesday! To begin something new, we have to end something old. In the natural this will happen for the calendar. However, for us to leave survival mode and live the abundant life, we have to make some important choices. God gives grace to change but it has to be received and acted on. Could today be a Day Of Decision that could change your quality of life for next year and the future beyond that? If I am successful, you will be inspired and encouraged to conquer your giants, whether it is procrastination or fear or another one. Thomas S. Monson is quoted as saying, “Decisions Determine Destiny”.[1]
Temperament: As we mature in life, we learn certain things about ourselves, our talents, gifts, the type personality we have. We learn our weaknesses and our strengths and if we mature, we learn how to maximize our strengths and overcome our weaknesses. For example, Sharon is a fast processor. I am a slow processor. She is able to size a situation up and make a decision quickly. She may make a wrong decision but she is decisive. I am not able to function this way, I am slower, more deliberate but when I finally make a decision, if I do, it is probably a wise one to which I am committed and will follow through on. I am tenacious, fairly patient on the positive side and stubborn on the negative side. I am a finisher. I am just not a very good starter. So the giant I have had to battle and continually conquer is procrastination. It is just my human nature to put off the things I should do until a more convenient time which usually doesn’t come.
Hard work is often the easy work you do not do at the proper time.[2]
One Unknown Poet quipped:
I spent a fortune
On a trampoline,
A stationary bike
And a rowing machine
Complete with gadgets
To read my pulse,
And gadgets to prove
My progress results,
And others to show
The miles I’ve charted—
But they left off the gadget
To get me started!—Unknown Poet[3]
Gloria Pitzer has written this clever little poem:
Procrastination is my sin
It brings me naught but sorrow.
I know that I should stop it
In fact, I will…tomorrow.[4]
Procrastination stands between you and a fulfilled life.
Clutter, Definition of: to fill or cover with scattered or disordered things that impede movement or reduce effectiveness … she tried to minimize the unnecessary clutter in her house.
[1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clutter, Downloaded 12/27/2019.
v How does clutter affect your life? Clutter increases your stress. According to a study in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, people with cluttered homes full of unfinished projects were more depressed, fatigued, and had higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol than those who described their homes as “restful” and “restorative.” May 4, 2017[2]
[2] https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=clutter+definition, Downloaded 12/27/2019.
12 Surprising Ways Clutter Is Ruining Your Life [Infographic]: Clutter Harms Your Health, Relationships, Derails Your Career & Drains Your Wallet.
1. Increases your stress
2. Wrecks your diet
3. Triggers respiratory issues
4. Threatens your safety
5. Jeopardizes your love life
6. Upsets your kids
7. Isolates you
8. Prevents you from getting promoted
9. Makes you miss work
10. Decreases productivity
11. Encourages bad spending habits
12. Keeps you in debt[7]
Who knew? I just have been aware that the clutter in my office in particular was like a weight, a depressing, discouraging atmosphere which hindered my productivity and creativity because I hated that it was like that but had little motivation or time to change it. Clutter and disorganization are sure clues to the operation of procrastination which is counter to God’s purpose in our lives.
God’s Purpose For Us: To be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:29 (NKJV) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29 (NLT2) For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Our Heavenly Father is committed to making us like His Son so we will represent Him well. He wants us as His sons and daughters to be like Him and to be like Jesus. He wants us to be thriving, living an abundant life, living orderly, disciplined lives that reflect His glory and attracts others to Him.
God’s Promise To Us: He will finish the work He started in us.
Philippians 1:6 (NLT2) And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Because God is committed to us, to conform us and bless us, He will deal with our hearts, calling us, inspiring us and helping us change, all our lives. This is why we never retire from life, we keep growing, changing and allowing Him to work in and through us all our days. I just heard of this 103 year old runner recently: Julia Hawkins, the 103-year-old inspiration who took up running just three years ago, competed this week at the National Senior Games in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and came away with two gold medals.[8]
Video Clip: Julia Hawkins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euNQ7pjur7w
God Speaking To Me About Order: So in various ways recently, the Lord has been speaking to me, especially in my journals about what He wants of me. He brought up: 1 Corinthians 14:40 (NKJV) Let all things be done decently and in order. He said He is a God of order, discipline is His way. He asked me to get my office in order as a part of my life flowing in His order. He has other things for me to do but this step is important. So I have received God’s grace and much of the clutter has been dealt with. It is a process and there is much to be done but I am committed to not only clean and organize things better but to develop a system to deal with things like mail and projects so they have a place and are not just piling up as in the past.
Video Clip of Clean & Organized office:
1. Jesus came to enable us to live an abundant life. John 10:10 We have to believe we can with His grace.
2. To begin something new, we have to end something old. Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. No faith, no fruit. Negative self-talk has to stop, we must stay positive. Scripture speaks of putting off and putting on. We have to put off the grave clothes of procrastination and put on the new creation clothes of discipline and God’s order.
3. Make a plan and write it down. Habakkuk 2:2 (NKJV) Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. A “To Do List” really helps me so I map out what needs to be done in the right priority and check it off when it is done. Look over your list to keep your direction and check it off to gain a sense of momentum.
4. Throw off what hinders, especially clutter. Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
I had to repent for allowing myself to be disorderly and undisciplined.
I had to be ruthless with myself and make a firm commitment to God.
I had to carve out time to change what was wrong and make it a priority.
Then I received his grace and I was able to change.
5. Set the joy of your victory before you to help you endure. Celebrate the victory and share it with others, perhaps they will be inspired too.
Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
An Unexpected Encouragement: This week in the gym dressing room, a younger pastor complemented me for taking care of myself and how when he had watched me workout and run and wanted to quit, he was inspired to keep walking. I was so encouraged by his words. So full of joy that my discipline had been noticed by someone else and God used it to help him. It is this joy we set before us to keep us motivated.
[1] https://www.pinterest.com/pin/485262928584769833/. Downloaded 12-28-2019.
[2] Campus Life Magazine, May, 1980, page 18.
[3] Bits & Pieces, June 22, 1995, pp. 6-7.
[4] Today in the Word, MBI, April, 1990, p. 41
[5] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clutter, Downloaded 12/27/2019.
[6] https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=clutter+definition, Downloaded 12/27/2019.
[7] https://makespace.com/blog/posts/clutter-infographic/, Downloaded 12/27/2019.
[8] https://www.womensrunning.com/2019/06/news/103-year-old-julia-hawkins-is-a-gold-medalist-again_102587, Downloaded 12/27/2019.