Overcoming Procrastination Through Faith and Obedience

Devotional

Day 1: Seek God's Approval in All You Do

Whatever you do, do it for the Lord, not for people. When you focus on seeking God's approval above all else, your motivation shifts from pleasing others or yourself to honoring the One who saved you and promises you eternal life. This perspective calls you to bring your best efforts in every task, big or small, because you are working for the audience of One who deserves your very best. When you remember that God is watching and delighting in your faithfulness, even the most mundane responsibilities become acts of worship. [16:00]

Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,"

Reflection: What is one task today that you usually do half-heartedly? How can you intentionally offer it to God as an act of worship and do it with your best effort?

Day 2: Remember God's Supremacy and Authority

God’s authority is supreme, and recognizing His power and love should lead to immediate obedience. When you understand that the God who commands you is the Creator of the universe, all-powerful and all-knowing, and yet deeply loves you and desires what is best for you, it becomes clear that delayed obedience is a sign of mistrust. Trusting in His timing and wisdom, rather than insisting on your own, is an act of faith and surrender. [18:00]

Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)
"So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

Reflection: Is there an area where you are resisting God’s authority or delaying obedience? What step can you take today to submit to Him and act promptly?

Day 3: Respond to God with Immediate Obedience

Delayed obedience is still disobedience, especially when it comes to God’s clear commands. When you procrastinate in doing what God has called you to do—whether it’s reconciling with someone, sharing the gospel, or growing spiritually—you are essentially saying that your timing is better than God’s. True obedience means responding to God’s voice without hesitation, trusting that His timing is perfect and His commands are for your good. [07:00]

1 Thessalonians 4:3 (ESV)
"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;"

Reflection: What is one area where you know God is calling you to grow or act, but you have been putting it off? What would it look like to obey Him today, without delay?

Day 4: Trust God with Your Anxieties

Anxiety and fear often paralyze us from doing what we know we should. God invites you to bring every worry to Him in prayer, trusting that He hears you and will give you peace beyond understanding. After you have planned and done your part, release your anxieties to God, believing that He is faithful to complete the work He has started in you. Let His peace guard your heart and mind as you move forward in faith. [11:01]

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: What is one specific worry or fear that is holding you back today? Take a moment to pray about it, and ask God to give you His peace as you take the next step.

Day 5: Rely on God’s Spirit for Courage and Self-Control

God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. As a believer, the Holy Spirit dwells in you to empower you to do God’s will, even when you feel weak or afraid. When you face tasks that seem overwhelming or frightening, remember that you are not alone—God’s Spirit is with you, strengthening you to move forward in faith and obedience. [13:59]

2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

Reflection: Where do you feel most inadequate or fearful about what God is asking you to do? How can you rely on the Holy Spirit’s power to take a courageous step today?

Sermon Summary

Procrastination is a struggle that many face, but its roots often go deeper than simple time management. At its core, procrastination can reveal issues of laziness, an inappropriate view of authority, and anxiety or fear. Each of us lives under some form of authority—whether at school, at home, or in our relationship with God. The challenge arises when we desire independence on our own terms, picking and choosing when and how we submit. This selective obedience is not just a matter of preference; it reflects our view of those in authority over us, especially God.

God’s Word calls for immediate obedience in many areas: reconciling conflicts, sharing the gospel, responding to the good news, and pursuing spiritual growth. Delayed obedience, even if it eventually happens, is still a form of disobedience because it questions the wisdom and timing of the One who created time itself. Our willingness to obey promptly is a direct reflection of how we view God’s supremacy and authority in our lives.

Anxiety and fear are also significant contributors to procrastination. Sometimes, overthinking and the fear of failure paralyze us, preventing us from taking action. The Bible encourages us not to be anxious but to bring our concerns to God in prayer, trusting that He is both able and willing to help. The Spirit of God, who indwells every believer, empowers us to overcome fear and act in faith. Our level of anxiety often reveals how much we truly trust in God’s power working within us.

To address these root issues, three remedies are offered. First, seek God’s approval in all things, working as if for Him and not for people. Second, remember God’s supremacy—He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and loves us deeply. Obedience to Him is not just wise; it is the only reasonable response. Third, rely on God’s indwelling power to overcome fear and anxiety, bringing every concern to Him in prayer and trusting in His faithfulness.

Key Takeaways

1. True obedience is immediate and wholehearted, not delayed or selective. When we procrastinate, especially in matters God has clearly called us to, we are subtly declaring that our timing and judgment are superior to His. This challenges us to examine whether we truly trust God’s wisdom and authority in our lives. [07:00]
2. Our desire for independence often leads us to pick and choose which areas of life we want to control, even under legitimate authority. This selective submission reveals a deeper issue: we want the benefits of dependence without the cost of obedience. Recognizing this tendency helps us surrender more fully to God’s rightful rule. [02:28]
3. The way we view God directly shapes the quality of our obedience. If we see Him as supreme, loving, and wise, our response will be prompt and joyful obedience. But if we doubt His character or intentions, procrastination and half-heartedness will follow. Our actions reveal our theology more than our words do. [08:10]
4. Anxiety and fear can paralyze us, leading to inaction and missed opportunities. Scripture teaches that after we have planned and prepared, we are to entrust the outcome to God, praying with thanksgiving and relying on His peace. Our willingness to move forward in faith, despite uncertainty, is a testament to our trust in God’s power within us. [11:01]
5. The Spirit of God indwells every believer, empowering us to overcome fear and act in obedience. When we remember that God’s Spirit is one of power, love, and self-control—not fear—we are emboldened to do what God asks, even when it feels daunting. Our level of courage in the face of difficult tasks is a reflection of our reliance on the Spirit’s strength. [13:59]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:37] - Understanding Authority in Daily Life
[02:28] - The Desire for Independence
[03:22] - Questioning Authority and Delayed Obedience
[04:57] - Urgency in God’s Commands
[07:00] - Delayed Obedience and God’s Timing
[08:10] - The Supremacy of God and Our Response
[09:20] - Anxiety, Overthinking, and Paralysis
[09:59] - Personal Struggles with Procrastination
[11:01] - Biblical Response to Anxiety
[12:24] - Trusting God in Every Situation
[13:59] - The Spirit’s Power Over Fear
[15:59] - Remedies for Procrastination
[18:00] - Remembering God’s Supremacy
[19:47] - Closing Prayer and Final Thoughts

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV) — > So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

2. Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
> Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

3. Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
> Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.

Observation Questions

According to Matthew 5:23-24, what does Jesus say we should do if we remember a conflict while offering a gift at the altar?
In Philippians 4:6-7, what are we told to do instead of being anxious? What is the promised result?
Based on Colossians 3:23, for whom are we ultimately working in everything we do?
The sermon mentioned that procrastination can be rooted in laziness, an inappropriate view of authority, and anxiety or fear. What examples did the speaker give for each of these roots? [[15:59]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus places such urgency on reconciling with others before offering a gift to God? What does this say about the importance of relationships in our obedience? [[04:57]]
The sermon says that delayed obedience is still disobedience, especially when it comes to God’s commands. How does this challenge the way we usually think about procrastination? [[07:00]]
How does our view of God’s character (His supremacy, love, and wisdom) affect our willingness to obey Him promptly? [[08:10]]
According to Philippians 4:6-7 and the sermon, what is the relationship between prayer, anxiety, and taking action? [[11:01]]

Application Questions

The sermon pointed out that we often want to be independent on our own terms, picking and choosing when to submit to authority. Can you think of a recent situation where you delayed obedience because you wanted to do things your way? What was the result? [[02:28]]
Is there a specific area in your life right now where you know God is calling you to act, but you’ve been putting it off? What is holding you back—laziness, fear, or a struggle with authority? [[07:00]]
When you feel anxious or overwhelmed by a task God is calling you to do, what steps can you take to bring your concerns to God in prayer, as Philippians 4:6-7 instructs? [[11:01]]
The sermon said that our level of anxiety reveals how much we trust God’s power working in us. Looking back, can you identify a time when anxiety kept you from obeying God? What would it look like to trust Him more in a similar situation? [[13:59]]
Colossians 3:23 says to work as for the Lord, not for people. How might your attitude or effort change in your daily responsibilities if you truly believed you were working for God’s approval? [[15:59]]
The speaker mentioned that the Spirit of God gives us power, love, and self-control—not fear. What is one practical way you can rely on the Holy Spirit this week to overcome procrastination or fear? [[13:59]]
Think about a relationship or conflict that needs reconciliation. What is one step you can take this week to obey God’s call to make things right, even if it feels uncomfortable or inconvenient? [[04:57]]

Sermon Clips

Every one of us is under some authority. Automatic, when you come to school or when you go to school, automatic you're under the authority of your teacher, the administration of the school, under the school's rules. Under, when you go back to your homes, you're under the authority of your parents, maybe grandparents, maybe some of you older siblings. There's a natural, there's this natural idea that someone is always under the authority of another. But then the problem lies when, okay, you're supposed to be under the authority of that, but, hmm, you think otherwise. Meaning, okay, you're supposed, I know that I'm supposed to be under you, but I think I have some questions regarding that. And that is what I mean when I say, you have an inappropriate view of authority. [00:00:11]

We desire to be independent on our own terms. Right? Now, I'm not saying that we want to be independent, period. Because I know for many of you, you don't want to be independent in some aspects of your life. You don't want to be independent with the clothes you wear. Or meaning, what I mean by that is, This time I mean by that is a relationship that benefits you use. Thank you. You don't want to be independent with how your clothes get washed, right? You want that automatically taken care of you, right? Or you don't want to be independent to be worried about what's going to be for dinner. No, you want to be dependent on things like those. Meaning, there are aspects in your life that you want to be independent of. But then, basically what you're saying, I want to control what are those. [00:01:53]

You want to be independent on your own terms. You know, ma 'am, don't use my phone. This is my phone. You have no right to use my phone. You have no right to tell me what time I will sleep. Or, maybe to some extent, what time I wake up. I want to be independent on my own terms. So, you end up saying, I'll do it in my own time. I have my own time. Your timing is off. I know what's best. But again, I pick and choose. I pick and choose. [00:02:55]

Now, are there things God wants us to do and do right away? So, again, while procrastination is not explicitly addressed in Scripture, the inappropriate view of authority is addressed in Scripture. So, the answer to this is, of course, marami yan, no? First, reconcile conflicts. Matthew 5, 23, 24. You have an offering. You're in the altar, but then you remember. You're in conflict with the brother. You leave the offering, resolve your conflict, and then you go back. Sense of urgency. Do it right away. Resolve conflicts. Another one. By the way, these are just examples, no? There's so many else. Share the gospel. Right? Amen. So, that's part of our mandate. First, our mandate is to share the good news of Jesus Christ. And it comes with a sense of urgency. Why? Because Christ's return is imminent. What does imminent mean? It can happen anytime. [00:03:49]

Another one, respond to the gospel. Well, if you hear the good news, right? That despite of our sinfulness, despite of all the sins we have committed, there's actually someone who's willing to die for our sins and save us from our sins. And the good news is, we can be forgiven of our sins and as a reward, eternal life. So, that's good news. Sabi sa Bible, when you hear the good news, don't harden your hearts. You respond to the gospel again, immediately. [00:05:11]

Your sanctification is, you are, God wants you to grow spiritually. Meaning, when you get saved, Okay. Okay? Christ started a work in your life. Understand that? Liting ko ah, when you got saved, Christ started a work in your life. And that work is the sanctification or yung growth mo spiritually. And that is, the Bible is explicit. That is the will of God for you. God wants you to do that and do that right away. [00:06:04]

Procrastination points to delayed obedience. Basically, you say, Warno niya, Delayed obedience, is that really bad? I still obey. Right? Delayed niya lang. But if you really come to think about it, when you delay, when you obey but you do it in a delayed basis, basically you're saying to the authority, your timing is wrong. Right? I don't believe in your timing. But when you talk about God, who created time, I don't think there's room for delayed obedience. Right? And procrastination actually points to that, to delayed obedience. [00:06:46]

Remember, our view of God's authority and commands influences the kind of obedience we give. The way we view God. Right? The way we view God. Sino ba si God? Di ba? How do I view God? The way I view God would influence how I would obey Him. Right? Because if I believe that God is supporting me, I believe that God is supporting me, Meaning, if I believe that this is the God who created everything with His voice. Can you pause for a moment to think about that? This is the God who created everything with His voice. I don't know what's more supreme than that. If we believe that God is supreme like that, I think it will influence the kind of obedience we give Him. [00:07:31]

Analysis, paralysis. Analysis, you analyze so much that you cannot do anything already. We often become paralyzed thinking about things unlikely to happen. Now, this is different from planning your steps. The Bible talks about you should be wise with your plans. This is not what I'm talking about. This is okay. You have a plan. Okay? And it sounds good. But then you continue thinking of what if, what if, what if, what if. All the what ifs. Even the things that never happened before, you still think about it. And what you end up happening, you cannot execute on anything. [00:09:09]

So you would say, I am unsure how to start, therefore I won't. Right? And I think this is the reason why I procrastinated in preparing for this talk. Because I am not sure how to start. That's why I have to wait for the push of the deadline, which is tonight, to be able to do it. And you will, you might also say, the task is too big for me. I need help to come along first. Right? So, you think of so many things. And end up doing, executing nothing. [00:10:06]

Well, when you are worried about something, when you are anxious about something, guess what? You have considered it already. Meaning, you already know what are the potential problems, and you already have identified potential solutions. And I think, when we have done that, this verse is very applicable. Right? If you have done that, according to scriptures, do not worry already. After you've done your part, what do you do? You pray, and ask God, with thanksgiving. Right? And the, actually may kasunod pa yan na verse, no? Sabi diyan, and the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts. [00:11:23]

So, this is not about, not planning, but it is about, after you plan, you trust God na, that he who has started a work in us, is faithful to complete it. Right? So, whatever, sabi diyan, no? So, in every situation, group project, college entrance test, right? Simpling quiz, sa math, sa math. So, anything, in every situation, you could come to God in prayer, and present your request. Lord, I studied, but I still fear. Please help me. [00:12:24]

When you got saved, the Spirit of God indwelt you. You guys know that? Ulitin ko ha. When you got saved, the Spirit of God indwelt you. Now, what's the purpose of that Spirit? The purpose of that Spirit is to empower you to do God's will. To strengthen you. To strengthen you. And that Spirit, according to this verse, is of power and love and self -control and explicitly sabi jan, not of fear. Not of fear. So, minsan, we have to believe, no? That if I'm a believer, the Spirit of God is in me, right? Therefore, I will not fear. Instead, I will go out and just do the thing that I know God wants me to do. [00:13:46]

Procrastination is often accompanied by an anxious and fearful heart. Sometimes we don't want to do the thing that we know we have to do because we're so scared. Many times, no? We're scared na it's too hard for me. Maybe I cannot do it. Maybe this is not for me. Maybe I have to make other people do it. Something like that. remember, our anxiety level exposes our belief on God's power working in us. And again, this is only applicable for children of God, for believers. I cannot say this to everyone. I cannot say this for believers. If you're a believer here, the Spirit of God dwells in you. And we have to realize that how much we worry exposes actually how much do I believe in the power of God that is in me. [00:14:44]

Seek God's approval. And this is explained in Colossians 3 .23. Right? Understand that whatever you do, you're doing it for the approvance of the audience of one, which is God. And I believe that if you always do that, we bring our A -game because we know that the God who saved us and has promised us eternal life deserves only our best efforts. [00:16:41]

Remember God's supremacy. Diba? You have to understand who is God that you're saying you believe in. If you believe God is this all -powerful being who despite His omnipotence loves you dearly and holds what's best for you and then tells you something to do, you'd be a fool not to obey. You understand that? If you know that this God who is all -powerful, all -knowing, created the entire universe that this God actually knows you and loves you and holds only what's best for you and then He tells you something to do, you'd be a fool to disobey. Right? So that's the remedy for disobedience. [00:17:26]

Remedy to anxiety, God's, remember, God's indwelling power in you. When you fear, you believe that the Spirit of God can empower for you and what you do is you pray and make your requests known to God. [00:18:30]

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