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Through some of my physical struggles I’ve become increasingly lazy when it comes to getting up in the morning. Like many of you not being quite ready when my alarm goes off means I hit the large orange “snooze” button for about ten more minutes of precious sleep.

The interesting thing is it rarely ends up being “just ten more minutes.” I’d end up hitting it four or five times till finally waking up about an hour late, and running around trying to catch up on things.

That basic illustration reveals a very important (and overlooked) truth. One of Satan’s favorite weapons in his battle against our spiritual growth is procrastination.

He knows that trying to directly keep us from obeying God (have a daily devotional life for instance) is too obvious. So instead he tells us that there will always be time to do that “later.” Of course it almost never works out that way

Thankfully sometimes we notice the voice of Satan saying there is plenty of time…but this is not always true.

This is why we must use the principles of Scripture as a motivation to do the hard work NOW even though there is still time left.

Here are some Scriptures that I found useful for attacking Satan’s temptation for procrastination

1. Hard work will be rewarded, but those who avoid hard work will suffer consequences (Proverb 12:11) ¹
2. Those who are lazy when its time to work display great foolishness (Proverbs 10:5) ²
3. There will always be reasons why you shouldn’t do the work (Proverbs 20:4) ³ (Proverbs 26:13 ⁴
4. Laziness becomes stronger and stronger (Proverbs 6:6-11) ⁵
5. And procrastination will destroy your reputation (Proverbs 24:30-34) ⁶
   

For me the greatest motivation for battling procrastination is the Christian life (and ministry specifically) calls for Self-discipline. I truly believe that lack of discipline has destroyed more ministries than public sin.

The thing about procrastination is it starts small, and then begins to affect every other area of life. So discipline must be the same.

Which is why sometimes the Godliest thing we can do is ignore the large orange snooze button.

1. He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding ↩
2. He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. ↩
3. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing ↩
4. The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. ↩
5. Prov. 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. ↩
6. Prov. 24:30 ¶ I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; Prov. 24:31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Prov. 24:32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction Prov. 24:33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: Prov. 24:34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man ↩