”Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16
It’s in me, you and every person since the beginning of time. Its mission - to destroy, hinder, and negate anything worth accomplishing. It’s motivation - laziness and distractions! What am I referring to? Procrastination- yeah, that’s right!
PROCRASTINATION, PROCRASTINATION, PROCRASTINATION!
Procrastination is the silent killer that ravages plans, dreams, visions, and relationships in the lives of many people. Minutes, hours, days and years go by us where we’ve put off something that has the ability not only to change our lives but the lives of others around us. I can honestly say that I’ve succumbed to the power of procrastination on numerous occasions.
What is it about this dilapidating spirit that takes hold of so many of our lives?
There are two areas I believe we must conquer to avoid this evil spirit: time and fear.
TIME
There is a saying that ”time is of the essence.” It is true - if not so, God wouldn’t talk extensively about its importance. Ephesians 5:15-16 brings much clarity about time.
“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
The Apostle Paul wanted the believers to understand the brevity of life and the urgency to make the most of every opportunity to share the gospel. It still reigns true to this day.
No one knows the amount of time we have left on this earth, and we should be intentional in how we spend our most valuable resource. We must also make the right choices when it comes to our time. It is often spent on insignificant things that has no beneficial or eternal value.
Taking inventory of how we use our time will help us to refocus on whats priority, hence increasing productivity. If we look at tasks and events from this vantage point, it will help us fight those moments of procrastination.
Ephesians 5:15-16 brings much clarity about time. ”Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
FEAR
Life is hard! Especially when we face the monumental giants of moving out of our comfort zone. There are places, positions, passions, and purposes in our lives that we should reach, whereby we won’t attain because of fear.
The fear of failure, fear of rejection, and the fear of success can cause us to become stagnant in our lives. We choose not to move forward - we procrastinate with hopes that it will happen on its own.
God gives a remedy for this area as well. Philippians 4:13 is the universal tagline for faith.
”I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
This powerful statement came from a man that had every reason to be consumed with fear. The Apostle Paul spent the entirety of his life facing extreme obstacles. In most instances, they were life-threatening. But he persevered because he knew that His faith in God’s ability surpassed his fear of man actions.
When we face those monumental giants in our lives that deter us from accomplishing the will of God, we can meet them head on knowing that we are not fighting alone.
This strength through Christ Jesus is more than enough to annihilate the silent killer of procrastination.
Philippians 4:13 is the universal tagline for faith.” I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
As we approach a new year and new decade, let us make the most of all opportunities time presents to us and conqueror the fear of obtaining them. We have everything we need, if we to tap into His power and source of our strength!
Get to it. Make things happen this coming year!
Dr. Stephone A. Berry is an Associate Minister at Christian Faith Fellowship in Columbia, South Carolina. He graduated with a Master of Divinity in Ministry Studies and earned a Doctorate of Ministerial Leadership from Columbia International University.
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