What can one do to overcome procrastination? It is a question that should be considered. For there are things that need doing in everyone's lives. Even Jesus, at an early age, knew he had certain things that needed doing. "... I must be about my Father's business" (Luke 2:49). Thus, we must be also.
Webster's defines procrastinating as, to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done. There are a couple of things that I believe we can do to help us overcome procrastination. For if we continue to put things off, we will surely live to regret it. To come to a time when you know it is too late to act is a dreadful feeling. A verse in Jeremiah reveals the despair in people when they realize that their procrastination brings them to a point where there are no more opportunities: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jeremiah 8:20)!
To overcome procrastination, one of the things we can do is remove distractions. The thing about distractions is that it is so easy to give in to them. We even put distractions in our lives purposefully, getting "breaking news" alerts. That's not wrong, but a person can handle only so much information and function efficiently. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier (2 Timothy 2:4). We must not get distracted, letting other, nonessential things interfere with our life's mission. Martha was distracted by many things, but her sister chose the one thing that was needed (Luke 10:38-42). You must choose as well.
Another thing that can help us overcome procrastination is education. We may know what we need to do, but we might not know how to do it. This deficiency may lead one to throw up his hands in frustration and resignation. This is where others can help. I believe one characteristic that successful people have is the humility to ask for help. Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established (Proverbs 15:22). We often find that others have experienced what we are going through now, but sadly, we fail to seek their counsel and find the solution. The church to be a place of education (Ephesians 4:11-16; Titus 2:1-8).
The wise man said, He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap (Ecclesiastes 11:4). There is a heavy price to pay for procrastination. If we are to have a good life, if we are to be a blessing to others, if we are to please our heavenly Father, we must overcome this device of the devil. We can look back on our lives with joy and not with grief if we do.
Brotherly,
Jamie
