A Table Prepared for us – a message about procrastination.

We are coming  to the end of one season, one year ends and  we are on our way to begin another. The autumn leaves have been cleared away, winter is round the corner and the  stillness in the air lets you know change is on the horizon.

For some, coming to the end of the year may signal disappointment for unfulfilled dreams and triumphs for plans and purposes met. Whatever position or state you are in let us reason like the Apostle Paul who said in Philippians 3: 13-14

” Brothers and Sisters I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead”

I for one, can say I didn’t accomplish everything I was meant to, there are a number of things left undone – “procrastination is the enemy of progress” as the saying goes. I started this year  on a high and positive note with a  long to do list, however  I found myself surrendering to the disease that is procrastination.

According to the Oxford dictionary procrastination is defined as “the action of delaying or postponing something.” I am almost at the end of the year, teary and wondering how I got to this stage of accomplishing less, basically something comes over us causing us to delay action, laziness perhaps or fear of the unknown or failure, who knows?

The greatest gift is that we have a Father who loves us regardless of our failures, our competencies he gives us new chances everyday waiting patiently for us to come to our senses, what a wonderful Father. The book of Lamentation talks about how God’s love never run out and his mercies are created new every day, isn’t this glorious. God’s mercy is his compassion toward us even when we deserve to endure the consequences of our sin and disobedience. Glory to God.

In the story of creation we see the importance of God giving us different and new  seasons,  a chance to make a fresh start. A new season is a new period or day to live our life for Christ again, yesterday’s woes have passed, the slate is wiped clean, and today is a new day to live our life without the challenges and faults of the day before. We wake up every morning with joy in my heart looking forward to what the day will bring.

So as this year is reaching its completion  some of us will ask ourselves and wonder where time went, starting January with plans and resolutions, a sense of positivity  however, challenges of life, trials and tests have caused us to delay and put off what we know we should do.

At this very moment, weeks before we start the new year, God is calling us back to our goal –  his plan and dream for us. It all begins with us, the decision to start is to figure out the things that distract us and cut them out of our lives entirely.

Paul admitted that he had to forget the past in order to reach his goal, I pray as the new year comes let us be like Paul pursing that dream that is on our heart. In the face of road blocks let’s persist and press on determined to see it through.

Let’s  make a prayerful resolution that the new year we are entering is a new season for us becoming everything Christ has made us to be. This is not a singular process but a continuous one, however we all have to start somewhere. God’s will is for things on earth to be done his way, just like everything in heaven is done for his glory. As he mentioned in Matthew 6:10, It is first and foremost God’s will being done here on earth as it is always done in heaven therefore, our Fathers plan is for us to shine brightly for all to see.

The most important thing is that, as good or bad as life may seem, eventually you too will understand and be shown the ultimate purpose of God which apart from  redemption, reconciliation, and restoration, we are also called to have life in abundance. To be fruitful, multiply and govern the earth.

What is it to be fruitful and live in abundance?

To live in fruitfulness is to live a life over and above, a life that is more than necessary, a life that is active and vigorous devoted to God, a life in which you are driven and passionate about the things you do, a life that comes directly from God. This life starts at the beginning of our lives, the Lord said to Jeremiah in chapter 1:5:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations”

The Lord knew and formed us before the foundations of the world long before you were born and conceived, he has a purpose in mind for you to be all he has created you to be.

Hence, God is calling us to be fruitful and fulfil our destinies.

we cannot allow ourselves to be weighed down by sin or to be blinded to what God is doing in our lives. In order for us to see what God is doing, in order for us to fulfil our purpose in the coming year we need our vision clear.

According to the book of Hebrews 12 verse 1-2,

“We need to get rid of every weight and sin that clings to us, stopping ourselves from being distracted, fixing our eyes continuously on Jesus who began and finished the race we are in.”

Therefore for this reason, Jesus is saying “ Dinner is served’ for “he has set a table before you.“ (Psalm 23:5)

Everyone is welcome to come to the table, which has been prepared for you, the Lord is calling you; he wants to refresh you and energise your hearts for the journey ahead of you this year and the next. SO COME.