What Makes Apathy So Debilitating?

The danger of procrastination is that it can evolve into apathy. Apathy can be described as a lack of emotional caring about whether life is good or bad. Apathy can produce a lack of passion for life. 

When a person has passion for life, there is motivation for what has to be done.

The first step in turning procrastination into achievement is to change your attitude. God desires for you to achieve and be successful, so take ownership of what’s causing you to procrastinate. By your taking ownership, God is in a position to heal you spiritually and emotionally.

God designed you to achieve and care about your future. He never intended for you to be apathetic and uncaring. Listen to God’s word from Galatians 6:9: “So let us not become tired of doing good, for if we do not give up, a time will come when we will reap a harvest of blessings.” This attitude and the resulting action open the door for a new life filled with achievement.  

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Love sincerely. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Love one another tenderly as fellow Christians. Outdo one another in showing respect.

~Romans 12:9-10 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today

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Can You Refrain from Procrastinating?

Edward Young, the English poet and playwright, advised his readers that “Being wise today is madness deferred.” Seemingly, there’s always a better time for the procrastinator to begin a task. To defer means, delay doing whatever until later. Edward Young says it’s foolish to defer what you can do now.

Do you know why it’s foolish? A college freshman had to face the consequences of delaying writing term papers and studying for exams. He was busy enjoying a new-found social life. Opportunities and blessings go by the wayside by deferring responsibilities.

Only when he ceased blaming others and confessed to his irresponsibility one year later did he become a successful student. The words from the  prophet Ezra are relevant today: “Confess to the Lord and do what pleases him.” It pleases God for you to be wise and refrain from procrastinating. So be thankful for that opportunity.  

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He who troubles his household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life.

~Proverbs 11:29-30 Revised Standard Version

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What Value Is There in Confessing Irresponsibility?

I’m sure you’ve heard the story of the youngster who came to class empty-handed proclaiming, “My dog ate my homework.” A teacher might excuse a student once for concocting such a story, but if procrastination is the issue, then blaming the dog will cease to be acceptable.

Why is it so difficult to own up to procrastination and say, “Yes it’s my fault. I put off finishing the task until it was too late to finish. This is a bad habit.” Confessing to a fault is painful, and courage is required to be honest, but taking ownership to procrastinating is necessary for change.

God’s word assures us that confession of irresponsibility is what God honors. Listen to James 5:16: “Admit your faults and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Pray for courage to be the kind of person who is honest in all things.          

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For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

~2 Peter 1:5-7 New International Version

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What Makes Self-improvement Challenging?

Novelist Patrick White penned these words, “Few people take easily to a plan of self-improvement.” We will discover procrastination attempting to dislodge our commitment to accomplish what we know needs to be done. Self-improvement is an easy target for procrastination.

So many individuals in their thirties and forties discover they’re no longer satisfied with their work or career. It fails to provide the joy and fulfillment of earlier days. Because they are fearful of new challenges or even failure, self-improvement opportunities are delayed.

The Lord Jesus Christ did not come into the world to save perfect people. He came because all people are imperfect and blemished. Nor does he expect you to be perfect after you have been redeemed. God wants you to be in the process of maturing, to trust him for faith to stretch the limits of who you are. You don’t have to be perfect to be loved by God or for the Holy Spirit’s power to help you mature. 

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We receive from him whatever we ask because we [carefully and consistently] keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight [seeking habitually to follow his plan for us]. This is his commandment, that we believe [with personal faith and confident trust] in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and [that we unselfishly] love and seek what is best for one another, just as he commanded us. 

~1 John 3:22-23  Amplified Bible

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How Is Procrastination Outside of God's Perfect Will?

Overcoming procrastination takes determination. It also requires believing in your heart that absolute perfection is not required. The true perfectionist falsely believes he or she will be judged harshly by oneself or others if whatever needs to be done isn’t done perfectly.

The procrastinator tends to be in conflict at some level with family, friends, or fellow employees. This often leads to delays in completing a given task. The procrastinator will predictably lead a life of dissatisfaction and underachievement.

It is difficult to change, so it’s imperative to believe it is God’s will to do so. 

God is the giver of hope and strength to put into action what he intends for you to do. Let God’s word from Hosea 10:12 speak to you: “It’s time for you to turn to the Lord and he will come and pour blessings upon you.” By believing God’s words, you can defeat procrastination.  

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Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 

~Galatians 6:9 New International Version

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What Is Needed to Repair Broken Promises?

Are you putting into practice the changes you promised to make so you would be free from all guilt and shame for delaying to complete a task? You may be someone who has learned the art of procrastination, meaning you put off until later what could be done now.

The procrastinator wants to wait until everything is perfect to begin a task. If you’re a perfectionist who needs everything to be predictable, that expectation may be out of bounds.

Have you made promises to God and others but failed to keep your promise?

Deuteronomy 23:21 has this to say about forsaking promises: “When you make a vow to the Lord, be prompt in doing whatever you promised; it’s a sin not to.” One step in overcoming procrastination is to promptly do whatever you promise. It doesn’t have to be done perfectly. Pray for strength of character to do it.

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We don’t enjoy being disciplined. It always seems to cause more pain than joy. But later on, those who learn from that discipline have peace that comes from doing what is right.

~Hebrews 12:11 God’s Word Translation

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What Is Difficult about Confronting Procrastination?

A wise person made this observation, “The best time to do something worthwhile is between yesterday and tomorrow. What that leaves is today.” The procrastinator will invent reasons to delay. Proverbs 27:1 warns us not to “boast about tomorrow, for we know not what tomorrow will bring.”

What causes a person to procrastinate? John Peck, the author of The Road Less Traveled, says he avoids trying to repair something because he’s afraid he will mess it up. He asked a neighbor who was repairing his lawn mower how he knew what to do. The man replied, “Well, I try to fix things and I’m usually successful.”

Confronting procrastination involves a commitment to deliberately make a concentrated effort to move forward on a task rather than choosing to delay. Remember, God is there to help and encourage you. He provides understanding, insight, and wisdom for completing a given task.    

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Work hard and [you will] be a leader; be lazy and[ you will] never succeed.  

~Proverbs 12:24 The Living Bible

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