Put Off Procrastination

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Setting Joy Before Us

Mindset

3 Apr

Former procrastinators, remember being the little girl determined to learn to ride her bike? Over and over again she tries. Skinned knees, torn clothes, hard falls do not deter her. She’s seen the big kids zooming around on their bikes. So cool! So fast! So free! She wants that too. The learning process isn’t fun but the result is very desirable. She focuses on how cool, fast, and free she will be zooming around on her bike.

Have you participated in this conversation? “But I don’t like that medicine! It tastes yucky!” “Do you want to get well and play outside?” “Yes.” “Then swallow this right now.”

One thing that pulls me away from what I ought to do is thinking about the unpleasantness I’ll have to go through to get the thing done. I think about the unpleasant taste of the bitter liquid. I should think about running outside to play.

This relates to asking ourselves the question, what do I want more – to be comfortable in this moment or to soon enjoy the rewards of an accomplishment?

Jesus sets the ultimate example for us. Hebrews 12:2: “‚ĶJesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus sweat blood as He prayed asking God to spare Him what lay ahead. Yet He surrendered to the Father’s will, suffered beyond our understanding, and gained the prize. He secured our salvation, fulfilled the divine plan, and sits at the right hand of the Father God, exalted on high!

How could He make it through such torture? He did it “for the joy that was set before Him.” He focused on that joy.

In emergency situations we tend to jump in and act. Seeing a struggling swimmer, you dive in without thought of cold water. You snatch a toddler out of the street without looking for something else you’d rather do.

Why? We focus on the end result – a saved life.

Yet in daily situations we delay because we focus on the drudgery or pain we don’t want to go through. Instead we should focus on the end result.

When I complimented our son on carrying a heavy box, he responded, “Why do you think I go to the gym? I work out so I can do things and be useful.” He presses through the daily workout for the joy of serving.

Training the dog. Stringing lights on the Christmas tree. Learning a language. Cleaning the shed. Teaching the kids to put their shoes by the door every night. All these take time and involve pain or inconvenience. Focusing on the benefits that lie ahead helps us press through. Get on the bike and peddle!

Consider a task you face. What is the joy up ahead that you will focus on?

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2 Comments

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Comments

  1. Dana says

    April 4, 2017 at 12:16 am

    I love your insight, and these little tricks to keep me focused are so valuable! Here’s to keeping my eyes on the prize!

    Reply
    • Beth Sterne says

      April 4, 2017 at 11:22 am

      Dana! Hi! You said it – Eyes on the prize! If we can just focus on that, then the aggravation we go through to get there shrinks in comparison. The pain has no hold on us.

      Reply

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BETH STERNE
Welcome! It's great to have you here. I'm a follower of Christ and a learner of new ways. By His grace, I am gaining victory over procrastination. This is where I share struggles I face and lessons I'm learning. Join me and other sisters as we put off procrastination and put on peace.

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“Beth’s presentation on procrastination was truly eye-opening. I knew I had a problem with procrastination, but never thought twice about how it impacted my relationships and showed God that I wasn’t onboard with His plan. I began to see each instance took away from being fruitful; I was living for myself! After this revelation, I have been working on procrastinating less. I can see places opening up in my life for more peaceful moments, more time with and for friends and family, and more time for God’s plan to unfold. It’s amazing to know there’s more to life for me than a life full of “should haves” as a result of procrastination.”

Carole S.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:42:59-04:00

Carole S.

“Beth’s presentation on procrastination was truly eye-opening. I knew I had a problem with procrastination, but never thought twice about how it impacted my relationships and showed God that I wasn’t onboard with His plan. I began to see each instance took away from being fruitful; I was living for myself! After this revelation, I have been working on procrastinating less. I can see places opening up in my life for more peaceful moments, more time with and for friends and family, and more time for God’s plan to unfold. It’s amazing to know there’s more to life for me than a life full of “should haves” as a result of procrastination.”
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/carole-s/
“After Beth came and shared about procrastination, many realized that it is possible through the Lord's power to stop putting off what God has called us to do. One mother finally started a blog and another posted a ladies; tea for her church months in advance so that ...she would not put off having it. Although I thought I was not someone who procrastinates, I realized I had some relationships that I needed to work on. Procrastination, I learned, is not just about getting things turned in on time, it's about listening to God and doing what He says to do when He tells you to and obeying God's Word.”

Rebecca F.

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2018-08-16T14:43:28-04:00

Rebecca F.

“After Beth came and shared about procrastination, many realized that it is possible through the Lord's power to stop putting off what God has called us to do. One mother finally started a blog and another posted a ladies; tea for her church months in advance so that ...she would not put off having it. Although I thought I was not someone who procrastinates, I realized I had some relationships that I needed to work on. Procrastination, I learned, is not just about getting things turned in on time, it's about listening to God and doing what He says to do when He tells you to and obeying God's Word.”
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/rebecca-f/
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2018-08-16T14:41:59-04:00

Christine B.

“I never saw myself as a procrastinator until her talk – I just thought of myself as productively busy! She helped me to gain new focus on what my priorities really are.”
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"Beth’s procrastination talk led me to understand procrastination as a heart issue in need of God’s restoration not just a change of my ways. Beth’s personal experiences helped me discover practical ways to attack my own procrastination. As a result I have become a more loving wife, mother and friend who is able to use the gifts God has given me more fully. I highly endorse this talk and would love to hear it again and again."

Julia F.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
2018-08-16T14:42:31-04:00

Julia F.

"Beth’s procrastination talk led me to understand procrastination as a heart issue in need of God’s restoration not just a change of my ways. Beth’s personal experiences helped me discover practical ways to attack my own procrastination. As a result I have become a more loving wife, mother and friend who is able to use the gifts God has given me more fully. I highly endorse this talk and would love to hear it again and again."
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Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise! It has
no commander, no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Proverbs 6:6-8
... you have put off the old man with
his deeds, and have put on the new
man who is renewed in knowledge
according to the image of Him who
created him.
Colossians 3:9-10

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