Intention versus execution may be one of the biggest hang-ups for a lot of Christians because the enemy knows that if he can stop us halfway then we’ll likely never execute what God has called us to do. 

Let me show you what I mean.

I have a bad habit of jotting notes and then forgetting about them. My intention is to come back to it later when I have the time to execute the thought. 

Procrastination at its finest. 

Except, if I’m being honest, (and if you’ve followed long enough, then you know I only do “honest,”) there isn’t a real drive to actually go back and give those notes any further attention. So in an app on my phone, I have a collection of about 100+ half-thoughts, 100 or more poorly written notes that need some further work.

Likewise, I have half a dozen books on my bookshelf that I’m nearly a third to halfway through. Additionally, I have books in my Audible collection that I have started and not quite finished. 

I have always had this problem. 

But I’ve also experienced healthy execution as well. 

A few years ago, I was in a season that required strict discipline. In fact, every job that I’ve held required strict discipline! But this season was a little different. Most weeks were spent writing 3 out of 4 office days. That’s a lot of writing, for reference. 

For a few months, during a pastoral transition at the church, I was on staff at, I shared the weekend preaching load. Most of those weekends, I was preaching on Sunday mornings as well as still fulfilling other obligations. I continued to lead our youth ministry, preaching mid-week to those students, doing camps and other events, as well as investing in student leaders, and coaching our volunteers. In addition to that, I was working a part-time job outside of the church. 

I don’t bring any of that up to point at what I did, but more so to highlight that I know how to be disciplined. And I don’t know, maybe that’s worse. 

I know that I can be disciplined but sometimes it’s easier to procrastinate. 

I’m reminded of what Paul says, and it is so relatable for me, especially today: 

I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

Romans 7:15 NIV

Paul’s talking about this war that rages in every Christian between spirit and flesh—the desire to do what’s right but dealing with this pull to do the opposite.

The very thing I want to do requires discipline. However, I don’t do what is required, instead, I do the thing that I hate—procrastinate. 

I hate procrastination. I hate it when others procrastinate. I hate it when people put things off until the last minute. 

And, here I am, in a constant cycle of dreaming and then shelving those dreams for a “better time.” 

A time when life will be a bit “easier.” 

When days will be “longer.”

When my mind will be “sharper.”

When what God has given me to say, will be with the “right people.” 

However, lately, the Lord has been speaking to me about this issue that I have with delaying. 

You see, a lot of times, I feel like I write these notes down and stuff them away to use later when I have time to process or really craft them in a way that will clearly and cleverly drive the point home.

But instead, all that’s doing is delaying obedience. 

Delay is just another word for procrastination, in my case. 

Just the other day, I asked God to speak to me. I asked Him to give me a Word. And, do you know what He said? He said, “I already have.” 

Ok, He didn’t quite say it like that. What He did say, was that it’s time to stop waiting on the perfect moment, and to start moving in the moment. 

In other words, I believe that what God was saying to me was that I need to stop delaying. I need to stop procrastinating. I need to stop waiting until I have crafted a clever word. It’s time to start speaking what God is saying without delaying. 

I believe that God is more concerned with the Word reaching the people than He is with the way the Word is crafted and communicated.

In our world today, there is no shortage of clever words from God. You can scroll through any social media platform, and (depending on who you follow) you’ll see/hear someone speaking what God has given them—a clear and well-crafted word that hopefully sticks. And I am in no way hating on any pastor or preacher who preaches a finely tuned word. At all.

But for me, if I delay spending time crafting a word, it may never get communicated. 

So, fighting off procrastination, in my case, looks like a little more work on the front end so that I can be obedient with what God has given me rather than sitting on a word, waiting to create something clever with it, and maybe missing an opportunity for it to reach someone’s situation. 

A little more work at the start, and maybe a little less procrastination. 

What does it look like for you? 

Maybe it’s writing that card and GIVING it to that person who has been on your heart. (Which actually just happened to me last week, by the way. I was on the receiving end of a timely word because of someone else’s obedience.)

Maybe it looks like stepping out in faith.

Maybe it’s picking up a book that you started 4 years ago and sitting down to finish one more chapter in it today. And, tomorrow, and the next day, and so on until the book is complete.

Maybe it’s serving at church in an area that God has burdened you for, but you’ve been putting it off because of the busyness of life. That’s a no-brainer, btw. Start serving. 

Whatever it is that you are putting on the back burner for “an appointed time,” can I just encourage you with one last verse in God’s Word before I wrap this up?

Do not neglect your gift

1 Timothy 4:14 NIV

I am so guilty of putting my God-given gifts on the shelf. And, I want to warn you, urge you, plead with you, compel you that if you’re in a similar routine to get your gift out, dust it off and use it for God’s glory. 

The body cannot function with your gift sitting on the shelf.

The body is lacking by your procrastinating. We can no longer excuse when we fail to execute. It’s not an option anymore.

The appointed time is NOW. This is the year you’re living. This is the opportunity that God has given you to use your gift. Don’t neglect it anymore.

If this resonates with you, then I want you to know that I’m praying for you. Whatever it is that you’re putting off… delaying… holding on to… whatever the Body of Christ needs, I pray that the Holy Spirit would convict you. May God stir your heart and your giftings. I pray that the boldness and the confidence of the Holy Spirit would sweep over you and that your heart would begin to dream again about what God can do through your obedience. Whether your gifts were silenced years ago, or someone told you that you weren’t been called, or whether the enemy persuaded you that it wasn’t God, I want you to know that you have a gift. You have something to offer. You have purpose. You have an identity, and it is wrapped up in the Body of Christ. I pray that you would find hope and strength and the desire to be obedient with the gift that God has placed inside your heart today. I pray that yesterday was the last day you’ll neglect your gift.