Procrastinating is common and comfortable for most people. Lack of energy, insecurity, and perfectionism are often behind procrastination. We all want to avoid procrastination, yet most of us struggle with it on a regular basis. How can a Christian overcome these very human obstacles to accomplishing tasks and stay motivated to do the work the Lord has for us? First, remember that “We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us” (Philippians 4:13). No job is too big for us to tackle with God at our side.
Here are prayers and reflections to inspire you to achieve your goals.
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1. A Prayer for Perseverance When Facing Procrastination
The opposite of procrastination is perseverance. According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, perseverance is the “continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.”
Scripture has advice on perseverance. Romans 5:3-4 reads, “....we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” There are no mistakes when things don’t go as we planned—only lessons and greater faith in God.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to trust in You as I pray and work through challenges in this life. Let not my heart be troubled and let me not be afraid with You at my side. I release all my insecurities to you. Calm my restless heart and fill me with your comforting presence. Amen
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2. A Prayer to Accept Challenges in Meeting Your Goals
Roadblocks often prevent us from achieving our goals. Practicing perseverance means forging ahead, mindful of the challenges, but continuing with God’s help. It is difficult to achieve your goals when there are rough stretches in the road. There is chaos we can’t always avoid.
Be aware, however, that God never gives us a challenge—or “temptation”—that is more than we can bear. As it says in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
God can give us the strength to face challenges, head on. And fellowship with other people reassures us that our problems are “common to mankind” until chaos is subdued in the last days.
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for giving me courage in tackling challenges. You did not give Your children a spirit of timidity, but rather a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). Putting off what I know I should do is procrastinating. Let me persevere through dark times, moving my own life’s mountains out of the way. Amen
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3. A Prayer for Energy to Achieve Your Goals
Most people need some coaxing to get off the couch and do what needs to be done. Inertia, or in layman’s terms, laziness, is a great tempter. We may work hard at things that are routine or pleasant and put off unpleasant tasks, such as a confrontational phone call or email or a difficult chore. These tasks may remain on your to-do list for a long time.
Jennifer Heeren wrote in her Crosswalk.com article, “7 Reasons to Kick Laziness to the Curb,” that laziness is refusing to do things, but procrastination is desperately wanting to do something but not getting started. There are complicated issues related to procrastination. We need God’s power to overcome the issues that cause inertia.
The apostle Paul encouraged the early church with these words: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
PRAYER: Lord, let me take to heart the promise that those whose trust in You will rise up with wings of eagles (Isaiah 40:31 ). Keep me energetic until I reach the finish line. Give me strength of purpose and the physical ability to run steadily in the race of life. Amen
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4. A Prayer to Make the Most of the Time You Have
If you feel there isn’t enough time in a day or week to get a large and difficult job done, take action steps each day. Follow the example of the Pony Express, except be the rider every day, getting closer to finishing the delivery. Thirty minutes per day is about thirty hours per month, which is a lot of time to get something accomplished.
Perhaps eliminate tasks that can wait. Get the things you value most done first. Prioritize tasks based on your values. A phone call to someone hurting is more important than vacuuming your floor.
Time is precious and is spent whether we use it wisely or not. Janet Thompson wrote in the Crosswalk.com article “4 Things the Bible Tells Us about Time Management, “Every day, every minute we make choices as to how we will spend our gift of a moment—and when it’s gone, we can never get it back.” In scripture, Ephesians 5:15-17 says, “Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
PRAYER: Lord, help me understand what You want me to do today. All I have is today, and I want to make the most of every minute by moving forward and not looking back. Keep me from being distracted by unimportant details. Help me serve You in my own unique way. Amen.
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5. A Prayer to Focus on the End Goal
In a devotional video for Christianity.com, Emma Danzey says that if we are going to run a race, we must let go of what is holding us back and persevere to the finish line. If we want to run a swifter race, then we need to leave our baggage at the curb.
Jesus told his disciples to travel lightly, taking nothing, when they traveled to spread Christ’s gospel. That is the same advice I gave my daughter when we went backpacking in the wilderness. And runners try to make themselves as light as possible by wearing the right clothing and shoes. They do not run with a backpack or extra weight. Pack lightly and move swiftly toward your goals.
As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Get the big picture and keep your goal constantly in mind.
PRAYER: God, I need your guidance right now to accomplish this task. Cleanse my mind of the multiple thoughts tangling my vision. Give me a clear idea of where to go from here. Thank you for refreshing my mind with your wisdom as I focus on listening to you. Amen.
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6. A Prayer to Receive Inspiration from Others
The “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11 outlines the stories of Bible heroes who carried out God’s mission. The passage states, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13).
God gives us people in our own lives who inspire us with their victories, despite the odds against their succeeding. Consider what the people you love have accomplished. Keep these precious role models in your mind and heart as you tackle a difficult task. If you share the same values, believe that if they can do it, you can do it!
PRAYER: Thank you for the people in my life who encourage me with their strength and leadership. Help me to be a cheerleader to those around me and encourage them to live victorious lives. Thank You for my community of witnesses. Let me be a witness to you. Amen
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7. A Prayer to Run the Race Well (And Not Allow Procrastination to Get in the Way)
Commit your way to the Lord and persevere in running your race. Remember the words of the Apostle Paul in Hebrews 12:1: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
We do not run our race alone; God is at our side, propelling us forward. And each person has a unique race to run, unlike anyone else’s race, writes Lynda Lyle in her Christianity.com article, “5 Prayers for Perseverance When You’re Going Through a Tough Season.” God has a plan for each of us (Jeremiah 29:11). Persevere with hope and joy in fulfilling God’s plan for your life.
Remember to “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3).
PRAYER: Lord, give me the understanding that it is a privilege to do Your will, that I am a co-creator with You. Transform my mind from thinking I have to do an unpleasant or difficult task to rejoicing in my ability to do it with Your help.
Thank you for guiding me toward righteousness and peace, as it is written in Hebrews 12:11: “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Write on my heart and mind to always “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Amen.
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Originally published Thursday, 26 June 2025.