April 3, 2019 - Have you ever had something to do that was important but just kept putting it off until the last minute? That's something that all of us have experienced at least once in our lives. Most of us practice it almost daily in some form or fashion. When I was a kid in school most every paper that I wrote, homework or assignment I turned in, was "hot off the press" you might say. A very sweet teacher told me that I was a "master at procrastination."
I couldn't wait to run home and tell my family that Mrs. Rush (my fourth grade teacher) had found something that I was actually good at in school. Later when I found out what that word actually meant I realized even though it was true, that it was one of those traits that I needed to try and eliminate from my character rather than develop.
God gives us the opportunity to start over and to live free from our past. But for some reason we make excuses why we can't do that at this time. Why do we desire change but fear it so much, even when we are living in a dark place we so desperately want to leave? Its because this dark place we are in has become comfortable for us. We become afraid to step into the light of change because we are not sure what we might see. So rather than accept the light of change we continue to live in the darkness of the past.
I have found that one of the greatest hindrances in our quest to beginning our new life in Christ is "procrastination" on our part to start over. We say we want to start new, but we tend to put it off until another time. God is ready to heal your life today but you are afraid of letting go. So instead of accepting the healing God has for you, you put it off. Why? Usually your afraid of what might happen next, or what God might ask you to do if you surrender your life to Him.
There is a story in the Old Testament where God sent plagues on the Egyptians. One of the last plagues was of frogs. Thousands of them took over the Pharaohs palace. When Moses told Pharaoh that God was ready to remove the plague at Moses' command. Moses asked when he wanted God to proceed. Pharaohs answer was classic. He said "tomorrow." God could have stopped the plague instantly, but Pharaoh decided to spend one more night with the frogs rather than accept Gods immediate cure for his problem. I guess the question I have for you now is; How many more nights are you going to "sleep with the frogs" in your life rather than let God get rid of them for you?
We don't have to wait for anything. The same power that God used to resurrect Jesus from the grave is the same power that He will use to resurrect your life. That's how Paul had the boldness to say, "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ."
We have to realize that we have to quit procrastinating and move forward with the new life God has given us. Forget the past and look to the future. Don't spend another night with the frogs. Trust Him and he will give you a new life today!
I'm Just Sayin,
Mike Belgard
