Don't Put Off Today, What You Can Do Tomorrow

One of the things I learned as a child from my parents was to have a good work ethic. To dive into the task at hand and not to procrastinate. Growing up on a farm in NW Iowa provided lots of opportunities for hard work, from walking beans in the summer to morning cattle chores. One summer I remember my mom putting my sister and I in charge of running the house, which included washing, cleaning, cooking, meal planning, grocery shopping, etc...I remember my sister and I taking our 'noon' lunch break while we got caught up on 'All My Children'. I am proud to say that I can make bread and pie crusts from scratch and nothing smells better than homemade bread baking in the oven! Making bread takes most of the day as you walk through the various stages and have to allow time for it to rise. It is a time consuming task and require patience and dilegent effort. I believe the work ethic I learned as a child embedded in me good organization, time management, and even becoming a good cook. With so much to be done, there was no room for procrastination.

In Ephesians 4:1, Paul shares, 'I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love.

Should you seek to keep your life under control simply to avoid negative consequences? Wait until the last minute to complete your tasks so that you just skim past the deadline?

Your motivation for Christian living isn't fear of God's punishment or a frantic drive to earn God's favor, rather it is the steady eddy of life. The day in and day out continuous work and you will get tired!

When Abraham had been promised a son and was in age of 100 and his wife barren he didn't rest rather in Romans 4:20 - 21 it shares, 'He didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said.' He kept on working for God! God made him strong in his weakness in order for God's glory to shine through!

The good news is that God hears your cry, when you are tired and weak. When you think I will just do it tomorrow. Living a life that is in balance and harmonious with God's plan will not be easy, in fact it will be exhausting at times, however 'to be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That's what I'm working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me.'

Don't put off today, what you can do tomorrow!

Work hard and diligent and rely on God's strength when you are weak!

Blessings,

Jill