I trust in you, O LORD ; I say, "You are my God." My times are in your hands. - Psalm 31:14-15a niv
The secretary at my church publishes a monthly newsletter detailing church events and news from the congregation. I expressed an interest in writing an article to be included.
My suggestion was met with great enthusiasm. What she didn’t know was that she would be dealing with a procrastinator. Sure, I start putting some notes together at the beginning of the month, but I always intend to get them together ‘later.’ And next thing I know – it’s the end of the month. Does anyone else do this? Am I the only one who thinks if it’s worth doing, it will be done better tomorrow?
In high school and college, I always wrote my reports at the last minute. When I started working my first job, I inevitably clocked in late. The only spots on my record were for lack of punctuality.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve worked towards becoming more punctual, but on a daily basis, I find trivial things I can put off for just one more day. Won’t that laundry still be there tomorrow?
The Bible says in Colossians 4:5 – “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” The American Heritage Dictionary says that to redeem is to “purchase back; to regain possession of by payment of a stipulated price; to repurchase.” It takes effort to redeem time and laziness to waste it. I’ve noticed when I make the effort to give God a portion of time at the start of my day, often the day’s events go much smoother, so that the end result is – I have more time.
As a Christian, I hope you agree that we don’t want to be guilty of procrastinating spiritual activities. We always intend to witness to our neighbor. We always intend to read the Bible more and memorize the scriptures that help us to be that dynamic witness we want to be. When was it we decided to be more faithful in our attendance to the church services? Was that back in January? It is all too easy to turn the alarm clock off and say, “Oh, I can always start going next Sunday.” How often do we say, “Where did the time fly?”
The time is at hand. The time to start reading the Bible is now. The time to witness to your neighbor and pray for your family is now. My prayer is that I will redeem the time as I live each day to its fullest for the Lord.
I’m going to go tackle that laundry now!
Prayer: Lord, I thank You for each day. I pray I will be responsible with the time You grant to me. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.
*Originally appeared in WorthFinding Christian Media
6 comments:
Hmmm...well,....let me put it this way, Donna....if you don't get too many responses to this devotional, it's because we, your readers, are under conviction and don't want to have to admit it. You clocked ME square in the jaw!...and I thank you for it!
Ellen
Hi Donna,
Sometimes, procrastinating helps keep our sanity intack. If we were to do everything the moment that it pops into our minds, we would have nothing more than a pile of unfinished work. By procrastinating, we tend to keep our main priorities complete. Not everything is a priority.
But, it is true that the Lord should be at the top of our priority list, and his work should always be complete. Everything else can wait.
Now, if I can learn to remember this every day of my life, then my life would be complete and unblemished. But this too is not a reality. Life is like walking a tight rope one hundred feet above the ground, and keeping it balanced is an every day struggle. Sometimes, when we procrastinate walking the tight rope until we're ready to do it helps keep us from falling.
Marilyn
Donna, thanks for the reminder. It's true. We are to be good stewards of our time. It's so easy to put things off til later or tomorrow. It's so easy to get involved in so many things that we end up procrastinating, usually, the most important things.
I too have seen the miracle... his blessing. When I put God in my day first, I have more time to tackle the rest and get more accomplished ! Matthew 6:33 is a wonderful promise!!
Rhodi
www.inkspirationsbyrhodi.blogspot.com
Greetings!!! Be BLESSED!! Thanky you for being a blessing. Let us all endeavour to "redeem the time". The only way it holds possibility, is by "giving" sowing our time to God. It is all His anyway. He alone gives us day by day. Again, THANK YOU for being a blessings. Many abundant riches in JESUS!! John Bonventre 2COR.9:8
Thanks for stopping by Ellen, Marilyn, Rhodi, and John. I'm working on a writing project right now, and my resolve not to procrastinate is in high gear! *g* Pray for me.
Donna
And I wanted to add...Ellen, put an icepack on that jaw! *g*
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