Happy New Year, former procrastinators! Isn’t “former” wonderful? By God’s grace we are NOT the same as we were this time last year! WE ARE CHANGING because God is working in us. Hallelujah!
A new calendar encourages me. As I’m changing into a diligent woman, I see little squares not filled in with appointments, but squares that represent days of growth – days of opportunity to cooperate with the Lord and glorify Him, days to receive His blessings.
A new year or a new day gives me a new chance to choose.
Like a new pair of cushy socks or a brisk walk in morning air, a new year invigorates me. I like renewal!
We need renewal because we grow weary. We grow weary of our bent to procrastinate and weary of giving in to it. We are wearied by the consequences of our poor choices.
God wisely designed creation with renewal – glowing sunrise, melting snow, budding trees. By putting us in a framework of time and renewal, God gives us fresh opportunities and new strength to grow.
Temptation to delay is also renewed opportunity for growth.
The BAD thing about the bent to procrastinate is that the opportunity to delay is always with us. Dozens of chances to delay mean we can have many failures a day.
Likewise, the GOOD thing about the bent to procrastinate is that the opportunity to delay is always with us! Dozens of chances to choose mean we can have many successes a day.
Each temptation brings opportunity to choose diligence and God’s glory. We choose peace by doing what needs doing when it needs doing dozens of times a day. Each time, we are changed a little more. Hallelujah!
2 Corinthians 4 speaks of the certainty we have in Jesus. V. 16 says, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” Our “light affliction” of procrastination is working for us a greater glory. Eyes on the eternal!
As we live in time, our bodies decline. Fewer activities go in those calendar squares. But as we live in time, we are privileged to grow in our spirits. What a marvelous design! What a marvelous God!
Whether life is quiet or hectic, we can experience renewal each day. We can seize a new day for deeper prayer, kinder expressions, gentler touch, bolder action. We can see temptation to delay as opportunity to choose diligence and glorify God. He renews our opportunity and renews our spirits.
Happy New Year!
What renewal invigorates you?
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