Delayed Obedience - Resolved
Today I found (through a simple google search) that the world has solved the age old question of why people procrastinate! Top four reasons, are y'all ready for this?
A Fear of Failure.
Excessive Perfectionism.
Low Energy Levels.
A Lack of Focus.
Being a routine procrastinator myself, I would agree with all four reasons. And I would say I have used all four reasons on a rotating basis.
I have struggled with perfectionism, as many of us do, for years. No one has put the demand for perfect on myself more than I have. But that drive for perfect lead me directly into the other three reasons: I have to be perfect, therefore I fear failure. And my need for perfection, and fear of failure exhaust me and create a business that causes procrastination of anything I am not currently focused on. It is a death trap that leaves me defeated, frustrated and dog-tired.
You? Been there? Sound familiar?
But the world solved it. And they have reasons, solutions, self-helps, and even apps to help us overcome these reasons and find ourselves once again productive. It helps, with the mundane. They help with the day to day and at times even in business. But not conviction. Not when it comes to the tasks put on us by the Holy Spirit. You have to first get over the delay spiritually.
There is no procrastination that compares to the delay of God's will. The questions. The doubts. The denial. The need for absolutes. My routine goes like this:
My Prayer - "God show me your will"
Scriptures/Sermons/Songs/Conversations with others that affirm.
My Response - "God show me your will"
And that cycle repeats over and over and over again. I often wonder if God finds Himself exhausted in me. But I am reminded that "He never tires of [my] coming to Him, and [my] cry is welcome to His ears however frequent." (Come Away My Beloved)
It is amazing how of these 4 reasons for our delay, that the world came up with, the Bible combats as well. God has been teaching me in all four areas and over the next 4 days, I will go into details, but in brief:
When you face a Fear of Failure, remember "[You] can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:3) Peter was spot on when he said: "For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong." (1 Peter 3:17)
When you face a struggle for Perfectionism, remember "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6) Paul also reminds us: "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ... I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12&14)
When you experience Exhaustion, remember the encouragement given in Galatians: "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary". (Galatians 6:9) Jesus also calls us to rest: "Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
If you find yourself Lacking Focus, recall that we are called to "be alert and sober minded." (1 Thessalonians 5:6) As Paul reminds: "forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
I have found that when I stay plugged into my Time with God and spend time reading His word, I am grounded in Truth that helps discern the distractions and lies that lead me to procrastination. It is still a labor of love, to obey, but one I know I am empowered to do.
