Like an overgrown garden full of weeds, briers, and thorns, any area in your life that you leave unchecked for too long, will yield only the fruit of chaos. Productivity and growth is reserved only for the diligent. There's no way around that.
Procrastination will lead to fruitlessness and barrenness. And that's not what God wants for any of His people. He desires for us to live life abundantly. "...I have come that they might have life, and that more abundantly" (John 10:10b).
But often, we don't think about the ramifications of our actions, or lack thereof. Let's examine this from a very simplistic and practical perspective. In most cases, problems usually begin simply enough, right?
For example: The room needs to be straightened;the laundry needs to be washed; the closet needs to be cleared out; you need to study for that exam; you need to make those sales calls; you need to finish those reports; you need to pay those small bills on time... let me sat that one again! YOU NEED TO PAY THOSE SMALL BILLS ON TIME... otherwise, they grow into BIG bills. Can I get a loud amen right there?
I think, sometimes, we operate under the faulty notion that we can overlook minor issues and situations, and they will somehow rectify or work themselves out. And I'm here to tell you from experience, this is a colossal mistake...a great misnomer. Far too many of us fall into a pattern of being inconsistent and undisciplined, all the while, expecting that things will still turn out all right in the end.
But positive fruit is reserved only for those who plant seeds and cultivate the ground in which those seeds are planted. Then, through hard work, and "stick-to-it-ive-ness" or tenaciousness; things work out favorably, and the ground produces a bountiful harvest.
Unfortunately, we find it difficult not to procrastinate. Yet, procrastination causes small problems to grow into major crises. Here's another way I like to express this idea and you can quote me: "Today's molehill is tomorrow's mountain."
Napoleon Hill said, “Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow, what should have been done the day before yesterday."
Someone else said, "If it weren't for the last minute, I wouldn't get anything done."
I know that last quote sounds a bit comical, but how many of us really do live our lives that way? In truth, I think we all have been guilty of procrastinating at some point. But this year, do something different. Set goals for yourself and fulfill them. Be diligent and persistent. Don't quit. Even when you don't feel like staying on course, do it anyway.
Don't let anything deter you from working toward your dreams. As long as God is at the center, and you remain in His will, while striving to achieve His purpose for your life, He'll manifest His favor. Before you know it, you will have arrived at your place of destiny and promise.
Listen, 2008 is a changing year for you. It really is your new beginning. God has good things on the horizon for you... as long as you do your part! If you take one step... you know the rest... He'll take two!
So, get to steppin'...
Until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com
