“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.” 2nd Thess 1:11
“I’ll get to that later.” We’ve all had that thought, whether it’s about our chores, or an assignment or even making an appointment, we always have something more pressing to do, even if that something is binge watching an entire series on Netflix. Later often doesn’t come until our laundry basket is overflowing, something is due the very next day, and that ache is so bad you can’t help but pick up the phone and call the doctor. While we’re being squeezed by sudden pressure, we look back at the days, weeks, sometimes months we had and ask why we didn’t just do something sooner. We can almost hear an audible yawn in our minds answer back, “I didn’t feel like it.”
There’s a saying we all remember from childhood, “Idle hands, Devil’s playground.” It was meant to say if we weren’t busy doing something, our hands would find themselves trouble. However, the truth of that statement is even more insidious. If we’re not busy doing something, we get in the habit of doing nothing, and we lead undisciplined, unproductive, unimpactful lives, which is exactly what our enemy wants. Even more, the enemy wants to use our own habit of disinclination to be the source of our own destruction as Proverbs says, “Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.” (Proverbs 20:4) .
Some combat laziness with to-do lists, productivity charts, or even sheer will to “do,” but the Father has an even better method: activation. He calls us forward, re-inclining us toward something worthy of our life, saying, “Follow Me.” We get in the habit of spending time with Jesus and before we know it, are energized and passionate, walking boldly with purpose and sense of destiny. Today, we open our habit of laziness and position ourselves to hear our calling, and have our daily routine reoriented toward Jesus.
Reflection
Do you have an idea of what God is calling you to in this season?
What passions currently are dormant that you would like re-oriented toward Jesus?
Prayer
Lord, I’ve grown comfortable in my habit of laziness, preferring to do nothing as opposed to even things that would bring me joy and fulfillment. Forgive me for cultivating it in my routine and rendering myself fruitless. Speak to my heart a sense of destiny and purpose, and reignite passion toward the good works you have prepared for me to complete. Thank you for being my example, simply calling me to follow Your lead. Amen.
