Be still and know that I am God…”
Psalm 46:10 NIV

Procrastination has its place.

You know the story.  You passed up all the fast-food breakfast places on the way to work.  You have a good lunch packed and a healthy snack ready for the afternoon sinking spell.  You are going to do it!  Today is the day!  You walk into the office full of confidence, and then you catch a familiar scent.  Someone brought warm donuts, the ones that melt in your mouth.  So unfair!  Now what?

Even if you do just have one, that won’t be the last you hear from the donut.  Later, you’ll excuse another bad choice, and by 4 p.m. you will have given up on abstaining today.  That’s the way of sugar.  There’s another option, though:  Slow down!  Before you give into the temptation, wait 30 minutes.  I don’t mean impatiently watch the clock, checking the time every 3 minutes until half an hour has passed and then grab the donut.  So what, then?

Start every day well-armed.  Take a few minutes to remember why you are on the pathway to a healthier lifestyle. Take some deep breaths.  Make a goal for the day and say it out loud. Ask Jesus for strength (we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. Philippians 4:13).  Have a scripture ready, “Be still and know that I am God…” or one that speaks to you. And know you can say, “No!  No way!” to temptation.  In other words, be in a forearmed to talk yourself out of temptation by whatever means works for you.  Just because you don’t have a donut today doesn’t mean you can never have another donut.  It just means you aren’t going to throw this day away.  You aren’t going to shuck off the newfound confidence you walked in with. 

Procrastinate!  The longer you put off the bad choice, the less likely you are to give into it.  There’s where you have control of your choices…before you plop it into your mouth.  That goes for the hunger pang that hits you around 10 a.m.  Give it a few minutes.  It will go away, and you’ll be fine until it’s time for lunch.

Tomorrow:  Decluttering our headspace.