Last night President George Bush made a speech from New Orleans. As speeches go it hit all the right notes: compassionate, visionary, and spiritual. I believe most Americans who heard him speaking agreed with the programs he outlined for re-building Mississippi and Louisiana and meeting the needs of the people whose lives are in ruins. Now, words must become action! Promises must be matched with performance. I honestly think that Washington, DC is full of good intentions. We all know, however, that many a political promise dies when the TV camera is turned off. In my own life, I've made more than a few promises: to God, to my wife, to those I serve; and some of those promises never translated from talk to action. Ever happen to you?
Why is executing our promises so difficult?
Sometimes it is because we simply 'over promise.' We do not think through the real cost and when we figure it out, we conclude that keeping the promise is just too expensive. Jesus warns: “Don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if there is enough money to pay the bills?" (Luke 14:28, NLT)
Sometimes execution doesn't happen because we get distracted from the important things by today's urgent needs. That was my experience through much of yesterday. The most important agenda item for that day, to do some extended preparation for Sunday's sermon, kept getting bumped by urgent needs that landed on my desk. I let others manage my schedule and ended the day frustrated! Marriages get neglected, usually not because a spouse actually thinks, "I'll just ignore him, and my marriage will slowly die," but because the important need for intimacy is overcome by ringing phones, bills, and schedules that demand more and more time. The Bible teaches us a principle: "Choose today whom you will serve." (Joshua 24:15) Take charge of your life and set priorities. Learn to say, "no," to some of the demands made in the name of urgency, so you can say, "yes," to the really important things in life.
Sometimes promises go unfulfilled because we procrastinate! "Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow; you're only a day away." The hope of a better tomorrow can be buried by the accumulated 'junk' that carries over from yesterday! Lives, relationships, homes- go to ruin one day at time. A house that is full of dirt and in disarray, gets that way when today's mess carries over into the next day, and the next..... until the job of cleaning is overwhelming. Generally things don't just collapse, they disintegrate by one neglect that is piled on another.
30 years ago, in a management training session, I learned that whenever possible, handle paper once. It is such a simple principle, but it has served me well. The lecturer used daily mail as his example. When mail arrives, stop other activity and process it. Don't lay an ad flyer to one side to read 'later.' Look it over and make a decision - worth keeping or toss. If a letter can be answered, then do it instead adding it to the pile of 'to do's.' Finish a task before starting another. Of course, some things require more than a day to accomplish, but think of the promises that would be kept, if only we seized today's opportunities!
Sometimes promises fail because we are sinners. Paul, in that wonderful awful chapter 7 of Romans, says, "I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." (Romans 7:18, NIV) The sinfulness of this world and the sinful nature that wrestles against the spiritual nature, works to frustrate our best intentions. Weeds will flourish even in an untended garden. Flowers only grow in a garden that is tended, watered, and cultivated. The Gardener must be invited into our lives regularly, so that He can do in us, what we cannot do for ourselves. At the end of our resources, He is our great Resource. Because of Him, we can say confidently, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13, NIV) That's no empty promise!
Determine today to be a person of integrity. Keep your word, even when it hurts to do so. Guard your talk and promise only what you're willing to act on. Make wise, priority decisions and stick with them. Most importantly- live in the Presence of the Spirit. Pray fervently for His work to be completed in you and for His purposes to be accomplished in you. For the glory of God.
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Jerry D. Scott
http://www.WashingtonAG.com
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