You have heard it said that “the devil is in the details”? But what about the idea that “the devil is in the procrastination”?
Alistair Begg said, “The devil’s favorite word is tomorrow. The Bible always says, ‘Today is the day of salvation’” (2 Corinthians 6:2). While he was talking about being prepared, as a Christian, for the return of Christ, I thought about the challenge of procrastination for writers.
The Some-Day Curse
How many of you have heard someone say, “Some day I’ll write a book”?
Or to make it more personal, have you used the “some day” phrase for yourself?
Writing a book, or writing anything for that matter, is rarely something that can be accomplished in one sitting–or even three. We’ve all heard the stories of a writer getting the “fever” and creating something brilliant almost instantly. George Handel’s “Messiah” was written in 24 days. But this is the exception, not the rule.
One Bite at a Time
The old answer to the question of “How do you eat an elephant?” is “One bite at a time.”
Do you have a plan for writing your book? Do you work on meeting the goals of that plan? What do you do if you fall behind?
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) found a number of you writing your novel in 30 days during the month of November. Congratulations if you’ve made it to the end! That takes a major commitment and major discipline.
I suspect the trail is also littered with those who, for any number of reasons, have lost steam … and now feel guilty.
Today Is Your Day
If the devil likes you to use the word “tomorrow,” maybe you should consider the word “today” instead. Here are a few quotes about procrastination that may be of help:
Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand—and melting like a snowflake. – Frances Bacon
The habit of always putting off an experience until you can afford it, or until the time is right, or until you know how to do it is one of the greatest burglars of joy. Be deliberate, but once you’ve made up your mind—jump in. – Charles Swindoll
Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us get up and go to work. – Stephen King
“One of these days” is actually none of these days.” – Anonymous
Anything worth putting off is worth abandoning altogether. – Epictetus
The Bible on “Today”
Use a few minutes now to meditate on these words from Scripture:
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” – James 4:13-15
Chose this day whom you will serve … as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. – Joshua 24:15
Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. – Hebrews 3:13
Soli Deo Gloria.
