The craving of a sluggard procrastinator will be the death of him because his hands refuse to work”(Proverbs 21:25 NIV). Procrastination is a state of having trouble persuading yourself to do the things you should or would like to do. When you procrastinate, instead of working on important, meaningful tasks, you find yourself performing trivial activities. Procrastination is the act of delaying or postponing something. Procrastinating can happen in a variety of environments. For example, you might find yourself delaying a project at work. You might write it down every week to accomplish, yet somehow you keep pushing to the next week. Here are some common behaviors of people who procrastinate. We can take note of the ones applying to you.
Apprehension and withdrawal.
Being anxious and even retreating actively from people. People who procrastinate often show a lack of conviction and are worried about the future.
Avoidance and wasting time.
People who are procrastinating often spend a lot of time and energy meandering around what they feel is overwhelming them. They may wait to tackle that priority task until the very last minute. Most of the time, this makes them feel threatened or uncomfortable.
Placing blame.
People who procrastinate often blame external people or factors for not”allowing” them to succeed. This can be everything from time and workload to culture and environment. Some such persons see “the hand of evil ones” in almost everything.
Denial.
Procrastinators disagree that achieving the goal is vital. They often come up with excuses or reasons the goal doesn’t matter to them. This also can be seen in their non-committal behaviors, like being less willing to take risks.
Fear.
People who procrastinate are seeking security and self-protection, due to embedded fear. People who procrastinate are often fearful of the future. They may fear what might be the range of possible negative and overwhelming events and situations.
Which of these common behaviors apply to you?
Ways To Overcome Procrastination TodayMany of us struggle with procrastination for various reasons whether it’s laziness, busyness, carelessness, or fear. Whatever the reasons, God isn’t honored by our putting off things that we need to take care of. Yet many of us have tried different kinds of strategies and still find ourselves in a glut. What are the ways we can overcome procrastination today?
Come to a place of recognition &acceptance.
“I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes”(Psalm 119:59). You first recognize and then accept you have a problem. It is probably what our family and. friends have mentioned, but we wave them off with contrary reasons.
Seek out the root cause of your procrastination.
“Test me, Lord, and try me, examine the heart and my mind” (Psalm 26:2). After recognizing the problem, we need to get to the root of it. We need to ask the difficult question: why am I always behind? To every effect, there is a cause. Dig it out.
Pray to God for wisdom on a plan.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 5:16). If we deal with the reason for our procrastination, it will bring us to the place of prayer. We need to seek and ask God for wisdom on how to overcome this weakness.
Begin with the most difficult part of the task first.
“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed” (Psalm 20:4). Most times the Holy Spirit may lead us to begin from the toughest part of our project. This might feel contradictory to the mindset to begin with the smallest of issues and gain momentum.
Keep an accountability partner.
“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (Amos 3:3). If you want to do better, step up and share with your friend. Find a friend who may be struggling with or overcoming procrastination, then permit them to hold your hand in accountability to overcome this weakness.
Push yourself to accomplish goals one day at a time.
“Little by little I will drive them out before you until you have increased enough to take possession of the land”(Exodus 23:30). Every day there are opportunities for us to procrastinate; however, there are also many God-given pathways leading to victory.
Refuse to major in the minors.
keep the “main thing” the “main thing” by prioritizing each day the five most important tasks to be done and then doing them in that order.”… he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty”(Proverbs 28:19NASB).
Evaluate the time needed to complete each project.
Let’s be practical and add additional time for “hidden costs:” unexpected interruptions, reviews, and delays .”Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the coat to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it; it will ridicule you”(Luke 14:28-29 NIV)
Resist the temptation to feel guilty,
If an unforeseen situation arises I can’t complete all my tasks in one day. Continue to persevere the next day, again giving top priority to the five most important tasks, “Do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised”(Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV)
Change your internal dialogue.
Recognize my negative self-talk when I get emotionally stuck and change my thoughts and internal dialogue to reflect God’s truth about me and to please god.”May these words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer”(Psalm 19:14 NIV).
Conclusion
- Are you battling with procrastination?
- Write out three areas where you are battling with procrastination.
- Look around the group today, and approach someone to become your accountability partner.
- Every spirit of procrastination, deal with it today in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
- Almighty Father, procrastination has been affecting my life; remove the spirit in me today in the name of Jesus Christ.
- Oh God, work on the spirit of procrastination in me from today and put me on the right way in the name of Jesus Christ.
- Lord Jesus separate me from the chain that connects me and the spirit of procrastination in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
- Today, ideal with the evil of procrastination working against my life and future from this moment in the name of Jesus Christ.
- This is the word of God; every power working against my success, achievements, accomplishments, and progress, receive disappointment today in the name of Jesus Christ.
- From now and forever, let me do good things at the right time in the name of Jesus Christ.
- Today, give me the grace to work with the time in the name of Jesus Christ.
- Father, make me restore and recover all that I have lost because of procrastination in the name of Jesus Christ.
- As the Lord lives, I will not waste my precious time again in the name of Jesus Christ.
- I thank You for answering my prayer; take all my glory from today in the name of Jesus Christ.
- Begin to thank God, sing, and wave your hands to the Lord
Bible Study/Verses on Procrastination
- Ecclesiastes 9:10
- Ecclesiastes 11:4
- Galatians 6:9
- Hebrews 12:11
- Hosea 10:12
- James 4:17
- John 9:4
- 1 Corinthians 14:40.
- Mathew 24
- Luke 9: 59-62
- Galatians 6: 9
- Hebrews 12:11
- Ephesians 5: 15-17
- James 4: 17
- Proverbs 24: 30-34; 12: 24; 10: 4; 13: 4; 27: 1;14: 23; 18: 9; 20: 17
- Mathew 6: 33
- John 9: 4
- Luke 12: 35: 40
- Philippians 4: 12-14
- Psalm 90: 11-12
- Psalm 119: 60
- 1 Corinthians 14: 4
- 1 Thessalonians 5: 2
- Ezekiel 12: 28
