Take The Initiative


Hotline, originally uploaded by splorp.

Be sure to do what you should
Galatians 6:4

You can only pray, plan and prepare for so long, then you must step out in faith and act. The Chinese say, 'He who deliberates too long before taking a step, will spend his whole life on one leg.' The reason we never get started is because we focus on tomorrow instead of today. The only time over which you have any control is the present. James writes: 'Look here, you people who say, "Tomorrow we are going to a certain town...We will do business there and make profit." How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog - it's here a little while, then it's gone' (James 4:13,14 NLT).

Edgar Guest wrote: 'The greatest of workers this man would have been - tomorrow. The world would have known him, had he ever seen - tomorrow. But the fact is he died and he faded from view, and all that he left here when living was through, was a mountain of things he intended to do - tomorrow.' The idea of tomorrow can be very seductive, but the promise it holds is often false. It's starting, that stops us! Dawson Trotman, founder of The Navigators, observed, 'The greatest time wasted, is the time getting started.' The hardest part of writing a letter is penning the first line. The hardest part of making a tough phone call is picking up the receiver and dialling the number. So how do you overcome this difficulty? Schedule a specific time for doing what you don't like to do or fear to do, and each time you follow through and do it, it will get easier and you'll get better at it.

Copied from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Comments

TMM said…
Take a step of faith! =) Amen!
Barbara said…
It is said that 'tomorrow' never comes.
1000 miles begins with a single step has always been meaningful to me.
Have a nice weekend Mike
Amrita said…
procastination os a great fault of mine. I putting off difficult things
Anonymous said…
Ok - gotta say that I just love that orange phone. first, because it is just an old-fashioned phone and I can imagine its heavy receiver -- nothing compared to our little cell phones nowadays. and second, because it it orange. Great photo.

what was your vote on the movie, mike?
Michaela said…
Just wanted to say "hi"! I feel so cut-off from the blogging world. It's kind of lonely in my side of the internet. :D Love the blog, by the way!
Andrea said…
Your posts are always uplifting and inspiring.
Barbara said…
Yes I have seen My House in Umbria. I love those kind of films and Maggie Smith is great.
Anonymous said…
This typical old fashioned phone caught my fancy.
Great shot !
Leslie: said…
Hi Mike, we've been studying James for a while now and have already passed 4:13-17. How timely that you now write about procrastination. I think "Carpe Diem" is appropriate here, too, BUT wisely, asking God for His guidance to make wise, confident, and aware choices or decisions. Don't ask God to bless our decisions if we don't include Him in every moment of our lives. And...have you ever heard people saying things like "God is my co-pilot"? Well, I'd rather He be my pilot! Very good post! Have a wonderful weekend. :D
Angie said…
A very good reminder.

Love the phone too.
Wanda said…
This was so perfect for me personally today Mike. There is gal that is pretty much "house bound" due to an illness. We are dear friends, but so often I think about her but DO NOT PICK UP THE PHONE ~~~ Funny but three days ago, I had a talk with myself and resolved to call her every day for just a short minute ~~~ and I have!!!
Thanks for the personal encouragement Mike.
Paulie said…
Easier said than done but if we put ur trust in Him, we can do it with HIM!
zakscloset said…
wow that is so true! i think i focus too much on tomorrow, well not even tomorrow, i think about next year a lot! :^P and you're right, things get too out of control. it's nice to have a reminder like this to slow down and focus on what i'm doing now.
Steve said…
Very challenging mesage today,Mike. Quite frankly it's one I'd rather avoid,when I think of the number of times I've NOT done what I felt challenged to do, mainly because I feared the consequences.
Kim S in SC said…
Thank you for this post! What a truth...step out! Love the red phone pic too!

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