I once asked a friend whose great administrative gift I envied, “How do you get so much done?” His answer was simple: “Do it now! I eliminate procrastination in my decision making process.” I’ve since found that peace and progress are two immediate by-products of the “Do it now” maxim.
The dragons that slay us are the ones we allow to grow in the backwaters of procrastination. They start out as minor, messy, annoying little reptiles, but soon they’re snorting fire, scorching our hopes, and eating up our opportunities.
Procrastination is an expensive luxury. If I put off minor dental work, I will soon be facing major expenditures. If I fail to consistently discipline a child, I will raise a monster. What we ignore usually finds a brutal way to get our attention. A valiant warrior named Abner once challenged the divided house of Israel to quit procrastinating – “Now do it!” he said.
That’s sound advice. Make a list; stick to it; get organized; close chapters; say “yes” or “no;” finish what you started. Each of us must decide whether we will slay our dragons or serve them.
“Now Abner had consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you. Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’ ””
2 Samuel 3:17-18 NASB1995
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