6 Ways to Overcome Procrastination Today
March 01, 2015
Many 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 yet still find ourselves in a glut. What are the 6 ways we can overcome procrastination today?
#1) Come to a place of recognition
“I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes” (Psalm 119:59).
We must first come to admit that we have a problem. Our family and friends have probably mentioned our procrastination, but we wave them off with excuses. However it always catches up to us somehow and we suffer loss in academics, friendships, finances, or possibly even our jobs. Once we are at a place of admission, we are ready to make a change. The only one wanting us to stay in the state of procrastination is the devil because he knows the hour is late.
#2) Seek out the root cause of your procrastination
“Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind” (Psalm 26:2).
After we recognize that we have a problem, we need to get at the root of it. We must ask the hard question: why am I always behind? It could be a management of time issue or perhaps you are overcommitted and stretched. Fear is a big cause of procrastination because of the looming risk of failure. Whatever the root cause of our procrastination—God is faithful. When we confess our sins and accept His forgiveness, the reason for our tardiness becomes clearer as the Holy Spirit will reveal truth to us.
#3) 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).
Dealing with the reason of our procrastination brings us to the place of prayer. We need to seek and ask God for wisdom on how to overcome this weakness. The Lord hears the prayers of those who are sincerely repentant and willing to make the necessary changes. However we must ask Him in faith without wavering in unbelief. Once we pray, we can begin to listen to the gentle prodding of the Holy Spirit who will give us the right plan to overcome.
#4) 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).
Many times the Holy Spirit will lead us directly to the hardest part of our project. This would feel contradictory to the mindset of starting with the smallest of issues and gaining momentum. The problem is that many of us are in a tight place and “straightening the chairs on a sinking ship” may not help us. When we overcome procrastination by finishing a hard task first—we sense the accomplishment and move forward to getting other things done as well.
#5) Keep an accountability partner.
“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (Amos 3:3).
When we really want to do better, we step up and share with our friends. Perhaps we have a friend struggling with procrastination as well, then we can hold each other accountability to overcome this weakness. This should be someone we can trust—not just to help us stay on track—but also to give us grace for the times we fail in our efforts. The idea is for us to keep pressing towards a habitual lifestyle of making deadlines and it may take a little time to get there.
#6) 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. We must turn to God with our weakness and pray regularly for His help to become people of integrity and known for our impeccable word. Because the Bible is God’s love letter to us—we can find a scripture to memorize and meditate on that will help us press forward when we are tempted to fall into bad habits of procrastination again.
Press Past Procrastination!
You were born and called for a greater purpose in Christ Jesus. This reality should be the motivation to move us forward past procrastination. After the day is over, we are all one step closer to standing before Jesus. Don’t we all want to hear “Well done!”?
Article by Crystal McDowell
Crystal McDowell is a writer, speaker, and teacher with a passion to encourage believers to know and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ through practical application of God’s word.
Crystal and her husband, Marshall, raise their five children in the Bloomington, IL. As a freelance writer and editor for over 13 years, Crystal has published numerous Christian curriculums for Sunday School and VBS as well as many articles dealing with marriage, motherhood, and relationships. She’s a weekly staff writer for www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com as well as writing her own blog at http://crystalmcdowellspeaks.blogspot.com.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for the Gift of Fellow Believers When We Need Encouragement - Your Daily Prayer - January 18
Hebrews 3:13 reminds us to “encourage one another daily.” Why? Because we need it!
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for the Gift of Fellow Believers When We Need Encouragement - Your Daily Prayer - January 18
Hebrews 3:13 reminds us to “encourage one another daily.” Why? Because we need it!
Past Stories
- Girl Scout Saves Her Dad's Life Just 11 Days After Learning CPR
- This 100 Year Old Kentucky Centenarian Works At Home Depot, Offering Great Tips For a Long Life
- Woman Married 82 Years Has a Very Special Disney-Themed 100th Birthday Party
- Man Discovers 46 Year Old Christmas Present in the Wall of His Childhood Home
- 4 Year Old Twin Girls Are Heroes After Finding Retired Police Officers Wallet
- Her Cat Was Missing For 7 Years, But She Finally Came Back Home
- Delta Held a Plane So a Daughter Could Have One Last Goodbye With Her Dying Mother
- Even Through Dementia One Special Phrase Kept a Grandmother Connected to Her Husband
- Mom, Dad, and 6-Year-Old Daughter Are Heroes After Rescuing Woman From Overturned Car
- Couple Receive the Biggest Surprise Blessing After Cervical Cancer Diagnosis
- Old English Sheepdog Who Appears to Have Special Powers, Receives an Award
- 49 Years Later Daughter is Reunited With Birth Mother and Other Family After Taking DNA Test
- 22 Family Members Surprise Grandparents With a Fun Family Sleepover
- Scared Doodle Rescued From Thin Frozen New Jersey Lake With Help From Neighbors Drone
- Woman Caught in a Riptide is Saved by Fisherman's Hook
- Couple Finds Lost Ring In a Snowy Wonderland During Engagement Photo Shoot
- Jimmy Carter, 39th President, Passes Away at 100, Leaving Behind a Legacy of Service
- Kimberly Williams-Paisley Talks About Getting Her Voice Back After Losing It Two Years Ago
- 90-Year-Old From Oklahoma Is Rewarded For Going Out of His Way to Help Others
- Husband Decorates His Neighbors' Homes For Wife Who Loves Christmas
- Couple Befriend Older Neighbor After Hearing Music Coming From His Apartment
- California Man Carpools With Adult Children On His Very Last Day of Work Before Retirement
- Family of Three Grows To Seven Overnight With Birth of Quadruplets
- The World's Oldest Dog Spike the Chihuahua Turns 25 Years Old
- Christmas Tree Planted Back in 1979 Inspires and Unites a Small English Village
- Dick Van Dyke Turns 99 After Evacuating From a Wildfire and Welcoming His Lost Cat Back Home
- Santa and Mrs.Claus Continue to Spread Christmas Magic Even With Santa's MS Diagnosis
- Little Girl Gets a Big Elf On the Shelf Surprise Honoring the Little Brother Who Passed Away
- Little Boy From England With Leukemia Delivers Over 400 Christmas Gifts To Kids At the Hospital
- Gold Star Family Receives a Big Surprise That Will Change Their Lives Forever
- 8-Year-Old With Down Syndrome Is a Hero After Saving Sister From House Fire
- Man Paralyzed At 17 While Snowboarding Has Found True Love and a Wonderful Life
- His Wife Passed Away, Now Their Special Tree is the 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
- Granddaughter Captures Last Words Between Grandparents, Married For 69 Years
- New York State Police Rescue Woman Needing a Heart Transplant Stranded in Snowstorm
- Born the Same Year the Titanic Sank, World's Oldest Man Dies at 112
- Family Receives Support From School and Community After Losing House in a Fire
- Soldier Reunites With His Military Dog Yyacob After Years Apart
- Chicago Man Discovers That The Owner Of The Bakery He Loved To Visit Was Actually His Mother
- Husband Pays For 40 Pet Adoptions At Shelter For His Wife's 40th Birthday
- Parents Find Healing After Loss of Son By Donating His Beloved Key Collection To Little Boy
- Mom Dances With Son At His Wedding After Being Placed in Hospice Care 2 Weeks Before
- Grandmother and Young Granddaughter Battling Cancer At the Exact Same Time
- Community Brings Christmas Joy to Virginia Woman With Just Weeks to Live
- Four Friends Recreate A Fun Vacation Photo From 50 Years Ago
- School in Arkansas Mourns the Loss of Their Beloved Emotional Support Dog Abby
- 93-Year-Old Has Made Sure To Attend Every High School Football Game Since 1946
- Texas Mom Doesn't Remember Delivering Triplets After Rare Complication After Birth
- United Airlines Pilot Buys Pizza For 155 Passengers After They Make An Unexpected Stop
- Teenager With Down Syndrome Enjoys Playing Kickball After Parents Organize Neighborhood Game
Top Music Videos
Crowder Crowder Moving Official 'Somebody Prayed' Music Video
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Jeremy Camp Jeremy Camp Lyric Video for Powerful ‘Again’
Casting Crowns ‘Good Good Father’ – Stunning Worship From Casting Crowns
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson 'The Cross' Powerful Lyric Video
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.