Take Time to Pursue a Greater Longing

I personally struggle with procrastination—the putting off of things that I know need my attention. I say too many times, “I will get to that later.”

Most of the issues that cause my procrastination are not sin issues of overt disobedience; but I think my lack of motivation to act in the now or today may have a root of laziness or other character weakness.

I know many Christians struggle with this same attitude of putting off what we want most for what we want now. Busyness can distract us and lead us to procrastination. And that’s what I want to address today.

“Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.” –Jonathan Edwards

Busyness can be the enemy of lasting achievement, which involves focusing on God’s agenda. When busyness consumes us, we miss His best—even if we’re pursuing good things.

I believe once we see Jesus—in all of His magnificence, His gentleness, His profound love, and everlasting patience—God our Father gives us a hunger in our soul that longs for Jesus to have every part of us and every moment of our time.

Pursuing petty character sins for momentary pleasure—and putting off pursuing Christ—is nothing but vanity. But this doesn’t mean we don’t get to take joy or pleasure in anything. Most of our walk with Christ results in unspeakable joy and refreshing pleasures in His presence. And the closer we get to Jesus, the greater the longing to have more of Him. 

Yes, the more you long for Jesus, the more you see how far you are from Him, and the more you want your heart to be His completely.

The apostle Paul lived this way and expressed his goals like this:

"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 press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you." –Philippians 3:13-15

There will never be perfection in us this side of Heaven. We will have to fight daily the fight of faith against the sins of our hearts so we can be completely His, resulting in every part of our character being changed into His likeness.

We have such a great Savior, so let’s run together to win the prize. Let us fight the fight of faith to do all things for the sake of the gospel. And let us love one another well, for His name’s sake.