Reflection:

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“I’ll do it tomorrow.”
It sounds harmless. Responsible, even. But spiritually, it can be deadly.

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My poem No Tomorrow was born out of my own struggle, and one I know many others face, with putting off the things God is calling me to do. It’s not that I intend to disobey; I simply delay. But that delay has a name: The Lie of Later.

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The statistics make it clear:
- 42.6% of adults procrastinate often or daily, and only 15.6% say they never do.
- 80% of salaried employees and 76% of entrepreneurs delay between 1 to 4 hours per day.
- 88% of the workforce delays for at least an hour every day.
- 80–95% of college students procrastinate to some degree, with up to 50% being chronic procrastinators.

This isn’t rare — it’s nearly universal. And that’s exactly what makes it dangerous.

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The Bible shows us this is not a new tactic. In Genesis 3:4–5, the serpent told Eve:

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“The woman said to the snake, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden. But God has said, “You must not eat the fruit of the tree which is in the center of the garden. You must not touch it or you will die.”’ The snake said to the woman, ‘You will not die. For God knows that when you eat it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad.’”

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From the very beginning, Satan’s strategy has been to twist truth so disobedience feels safe, and urgency feels unnecessary. He doesn’t always tempt us to reject God outright; often, he just whispers,

 

“Later. You have time. Nothing bad will happen if you wait.”

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Jesus said of Satan:

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“…The devil was a killer from the beginning. He has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his own language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.” — John 8:44 (NLV)

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Paul declared the opposite — that the time to act is now (2 Corinthians 6:2). And Hebrews 3:13 warns us why:

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“Help each other every day. Do it as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you become stubborn because of sin and are fooled by it.” — Hebrews 3:13 (NLV)

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Delay hardens the heart. Every “later” makes the next one easier to say. As my poem says:

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“Each ‘later,’ a whisper, from the one who deceives,
An ancient lie my heart still believes.”

 

The truth is there is no neutral ground:

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“The night is almost gone. The day is near. Let us put off the works of darkness. Let us put on the things that are for the fight in the day.” — Romans 13:12 (NLV)

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Every day we either advance God’s kingdom or lose ground to the enemy.

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Application:

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• Identify Your “Later”

Name the one area God has been nudging you in, a conversation you need to have, a sin you need to confess, a person you need to forgive, or a step of obedience you’ve been delaying. Write it down and call it what it is — The Lie of Later.

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• Act Within 24 Hours

Take one concrete step toward obedience today. Even a small act counts. Make the call, send the message, pray the prayer, begin the change.

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• Anchor in Urgency

Memorize 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLV). Repeat it whenever you feel the temptation to delay.

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• Pray for a Now-Heart

Ask the Holy Spirit for holy urgency, a heart that hears God’s prompting and responds without hesitation.

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Prayer:

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Lord,
I confess that I have believed the Lie of Later.
I’ve told You “tomorrow” when You’ve called me today.
Forgive me for giving the enemy ground through my delay.
Wake me from my spiritual haze.
Fill me with courage and holy urgency.
Help me hear Your voice and obey right away.
Today is Yours, Lord — and so am I.
Amen.​​

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