I had to dig a trench this week from our house to our new shop building so that we could have permanent electric and gas. I admit it… I should have dug that trench this summer, but I procrastinated. For some reason, I was just dreading this chore. So, I decided that I was just going to hire someone to do it… dig it, run the lines, and hook things up. The only problem? I couldn’t get anyone to do it! People came to give estimates and then disappeared, people said they would call me back and never did… I just kept swinging and missing. So finally, this week I rented a trencher and just went for it.
You know what? It really wasn’t all that difficult. The trencher did most of the hard work and in just about an hour, I had a three foot deep 70 foot long trench dug. I was relieved when the job was completed, but I also spent some time pondering my reluctance to just do the job in the first place. Why had I drug my feet so? It might have been a bit more comfortable to dig that trench in the warm weather, after all, but I had to do it in winter due to my lagging motivation.
My trench digging dilemma reminded me that sometimes I can drag my feet in spiritual situations too. Maybe it is the nudge of the Holy Spirit to talk to someone about my faith but I hesitate instead. Perhaps it is an opportunity to serve in some fashion, but I make the excuse that I am just too busy. Possibly God wants to correct a behavior or encourage growth in some area, but I am unwilling to apply that truth.
But the reality is that whenever I trust God’s leading in my life and do what He is leading me to do… it’s really not all that difficult to do and ultimately leads to blessing. Part of faith growth is learning not to hesitate when the Holy Spirit prompts us and to just act as He leads.
Spiritual procrastination and lagging motivation will just keep us parked in our walk with Jesus instead of moving forward and deeper.
So, may God give us all more opportunities to stretch our spiritual growth through a renewed desire to act whenever He leads us. May we be resolved to follow the Holy Spirit’s nudges in our lives. Let’s leave spiritual procrastination behind!
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