Have you ever hesitated to do something, to take on a project, to try out an idea, because you thought you did not have the wherewithal to do the job right? Did that decision to delay the attempt relieve your worry, or did it just give someone else the chance to take over and, perhaps, be successful? Did you ever think, “Oh, I wish I had thought of that!” or, “I could have figured that out”?
Taking chances involves faith. When we wait until all the pieces are in the puzzle or all the conditions are positively right, we miss opportunities to be inventive and maybe even surprise ourselves. Worst of all, we leave the Lord out of the hypothesis and problem-solving. So what if something is not quite perfect? God is perfect and is ready to inspire us and help us on our journeys. Even if we fail in our attempts, at least we are doing instead of stewing. We learn and grow with our mistakes and failures if we bounce them off of the Holy Spirit. We certainly are not perfect, but God’s love for us is perfect and he is with us in all of our challenges.
Procrastinator’s Prayer
Praise to You, Lord, who did not hesitate to suffer and die for the sins of humanity.
Reign in my heart and mind today and remind me of your presence.
Open my ears that I might hear words of encouragement and confidence.
Create new and good ideas in me that I can use to spread love and compassion.
Raise my hopes and dreams to help me to overcome fear and doubt in myself.
All-loving Lord, help me to do away with signs of laziness or neglectfulness.
Show me how to spread your mercy and love to other people today.
Teach me to trust in the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, even in little tasks.
Inspire in me words of forgiveness and starting-over with family and friends.
Now and forever, remind me to acknowledge and use well my God-given gifts.
All-loving Jesus, energize me with faith and enthusiasm for life.
Thank you for saving me every day in big and small ways.
I love you, and I am sorry for the times I have made unloving choices in my life.
O Savior of the world, teach me to act this day on my joyful inspirations.
New life and freedom are mine because of you, Jesus. Energize me today! Amen.
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Photograph by Brett Jordan on Unsplash.
Sharon Krause is a RENEW volunteer whose writing has appeared in several resources for small-group faith sharing. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother residing in Manchester, Connecticut. Over the years, she has served in many parish ministries.