"No More Procrastinating"

 Reflections4Life™ March 12, 2023

“No More Procrastinating!”

“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.” Proverbs 13:4

Scripture Contemplation for This Week: Haggai 1; 2; Luke 9…

©Ruthe McDonald.

We all have hopes, dreams, and visions. For many, they have pursued them and successfully accomplished them; seeing them come to fruition, the fruit of their labor and faith manifesting. Others have lost their hope, dreams, and visions. Life has not been kind and has disappointed them. Yet, the truth is, life happened to both groups of people. Many of those who have accomplished their dreams and visions, too were met with disappointments and unkindness. However, they did not stay down when they fell. They did not stop trying or pushing forward. When one road was blocked, they found another. They did not give up. And when God told them to keep going, they did not procrastinate. When it was time to rebuild, that is just what they did. They walked in obedience to God.

I declare that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Stand in faith and walk in obedience, Beloveds. Allow the word of God to cleanse you. Walk with confidence and faith, pursuing your dreams and passions. Do not allow setbacks, disappointments, and trials of life to derail you from seeing the manifestations of God’s blessings for your life. Be diligent in your prayer and meditation this week, allowing God to be your strength, as He instructs you how to rebuild. Be swift to move and follow His word, kicking the spirit of procrastination in the butt. Everything you need already resides in you.

Stop Procrastinating

Haggai 1:2-7  “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” 3 Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.

God has given each of us instructions concerning His will for our lives. He gave instructions in His word, through His overseers and teachers. Even in our dreams and through circumstances and situations, God has admonished us and has sent His word on what we should do and the path we should walk. Yet, many have gone astray. They have not listened to God, but instead have followed their own desires and whims; have followed others on a path of disobedience and destruction, and have not yielded to God.

Our spiritual houses are breaking down. Our lives are not what we hoped for or expected. The truth of the matter is that many have been selfish in their pursuits, forsaking the word and will of God. We have moved away from the will of God and His instructions and have procrastinated in our repentance and have not humbled ourselves before the Lord. We wonder why we never have enough or can never move ahead or catch a break. We have been indulging in our flesh; gratifying the lusts of our eyes and ears, and have forsaken our relationship with God.

This has left many empty, in a place of uncertainty, and spiritually bankrupt. It is time to stop procrastinating, especially when it comes to following the will of God, walking in obedience to His will for our lives. We cannot continue to straddle the fence and only serve God part of the time but expect full-time blessings.

Romans 7:17-19 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

There is a war within between the flesh and the spirit, and if we desire to rebuild, to start over, and see our dreams and visions resurrected, we must walk in obedience to the Spirit, put the flesh under subjection, and stop procrastinating when it comes to following God’s instructions. We must yield to God, and do exactly what He instructs without hesitation.

Start Rebuilding

2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Haggai 2:18-19 Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid, consider: 19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”

The Father has spoken and given instructions, now it is time to start rebuilding. To begin to rebuild what has been torn down, and left in shambles. God has equipped us, enabling us to move forward. If you have repented, sought out the Lord, and have a heart that is willing to move forward in obedience, then it is time to remember those dreams and visions. God has restored hope, as He has forgiven you of your past. The only one that wants us to wallow in the past is the enemy so that he can use it to cause us to procrastinate long enough to talk us out of believing what God has already declared and decreed over our lives.

God has already forgiven you, now you must forgive yourself and start rebuilding, following the instructions that God has given. Repent, humble yourself, seek His will, the Kingdom of heaven first; allowing God to equip you with all that you need. Do not be afraid to start over, to begin again. God is with you. He will not allow you to fail when you are walking in obedience. Get your plans; the plans that the Master Architect has designed for your life. Follow His blueprints and you will not have to worry about it failing inspection. It already has the Holy Spirit’s seal of approval.

Finally Beloved

My Beloveds, May the spirit of peace and prosperity finds permanent rest in your lives. I declare that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Rebuild and start living your best life now! Yes, you messed up! Who hasn’t? So what, you are getting older! We all are! Take what you know—all the life lessons; including the mistakes, and grow from them. Do that thing you always wanted to do but were afraid to do. Life is too short to live with so many regrets. Always remember your hopes, dreams, and visions. Remember who you are before that tumultuous relationship, before that job loss, the broken promises, and the heartaches that may come. Life is not easy but it is worth it. So remember all of those great things. Stop procrastinating and do them! You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2023. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.