Put Off Procrastination

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Who Can Understand?

Mindset

17 Aug

Someone recently expressed to this recovering procrastinator her interest in learning why the heart desires procrastination more than pleasing God. Thank you, friend! Her interest parallels my recent ponderings in Psalm 19:12-13 (NKJV). I delved into this passage because it has often caught my attention, and it addresses some of this question.

“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.

Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression.”

I looked up the Hebrew in Strong’s Concordance. (A very helpful resource!) Then I wrote a paraphrase:

Who can discern, distinguish his moral mistakes, his straying – even that he’s been deceived or has sinned by ignorance and wandered? Cleanse me from hidden, covered up faults – where I’ve missed you, your way. Keep me back also from arrogant, prideful offences. Do not let them rule or govern me or have power over me. Then I shall be clean, free, innocent. And I shall be free of rebellion, of breaking away from your just authority.

In verse 12, the sins seem to be from lack of discernment, even ignorance. I may not know I’ve done wrong or I may be hiding truth from myself. In verse 13 the sins seem to be more deliberate – maybe or maybe not consciously chosen to go against God or His way, but chosen in arrogance for the sake of my pride. I don’t think of myself as arrogant before God, but I think I’m right and I choose my viewpoint over His.

That’s big – choosing my viewpoint over His. Then since I have to “protect” or justify my viewpoint even to myself, the irony is that arrogance moves into power over me. I have to “own” the position I’ve taken. But pride is owning me.

It’s alarming that sometimes I do know I’m wrong, but I choose to do the thing I prefer anyway.

During the high school years, I put off doing my student’s transcript. Once into it, it was a bigger job than I’d anticipated simply because I’d put it off. With the next student I knew it was a big job and deliberately put it off because it was big! An example of ignorance and of deliberate choice.

I don’t think my heart desires procrastination itself. I do desire my own route to relief. I’m short sighted and I want rapid gratification – so I procrastinate.

What do you think?

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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 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."
https://putoffprocrastination.com/testimonials/julia-f/
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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.”
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“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.

Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
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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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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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