We are entering the second part of our three-part devotional journey, “The Gift of Today: His Will, My Stewardship, His Breath.” And as we move forward, I want us to pause long enough to reflect on what God has already been teaching us and prepare our hearts for what He is about to reveal.
Last week, our journey began with a powerful reminder: “If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:15 KJV). We learned that life is like a vapor, that yesterday must not hold us captive, and that tomorrow’s uncertainty should not rob us of today’s peace. Through the mist of yesterday and the fog of tomorrow, God brought us back to one essential truth: His Presence is available to us in our present.
But now we must move from understanding the value of today to examining what we are actually doing with it. Because, Sunshine, it is possible to surrender tomorrow with our mouths while continually postponing today’s responsibilities with our actions. We may say, “If the Lord wills,” yet continue delaying the conversation, the act of obedience, the apology, the assignment, or the opportunity God has already placed before us.
Think about it. How many times have we said, “I’ll do it tomorrow,” “I’ll make that call later,” “I’ll forgive when I’m ready,” or “I’ll get started when things settle down”? And before we realize it, tomorrow becomes next week, next month, or even next year. Meanwhile, the very thing God has placed before us remains unfinished. Last week, we asked God to teach us how to live within the confines of our day. This week, we are asking Him to show us what we have been leaving unfinished within those very confines.
Our foundational Scripture, Ephesians 5:15–16, challenges us to walk wisely and redeem the time. This is not a call to frantic productivity, constant busyness, or a life without rest. It is a call to spiritual attentiveness, wise stewardship, intentional living, and obedience to God.
Understand this, God has not called us to accomplish everything in one day, but He does expect us to be faithful with what He has entrusted to us. Some things require patience, some require preparation, and some require us to wait upon the Lord. But there are also things we have delayed, not because God told us to wait, but because we have allowed fear, distractions, procrastination, or discomfort to keep us from moving forward.
And that brings us to the question we will carry throughout this second week: What unfinished business have I continued pushing into tomorrow that God is calling me to address today? And our prayer continues, “Father, teach me how to live within the confines of my day, that I may flow in Your Presence in my present, and not in tomorrow nor my past, in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ.”
Sunshine last week taught us to surrender the time we cannot control. This week challenges us to become faithful stewards of the time we have been given. Because yesterday has passed, tomorrow is not promised and today is not simply another day on the calendar. Today is a gift, an opportunity, and a responsibility. So, as we begin Part Two, let us ask God to reveal what needs our attention, what requires our obedience, what needs to be released, and what must no longer be postponed. Just so you know, surrendering tomorrow is an act of faith, but stewarding today is an act of obedience. Do not become so focused on what God might do tomorrow that you neglect what He has already entrusted to you today.
Now, let us begin Part Two: “The Unfinished Business Of Today! What Are You Leaving Undone While Waiting For Tomorrow?”
Good Morning Sunshine! What Are You Still Putting Off? When Tomorrow Becomes Your Excuse For Delaying What God Is Calling You To Do Today!
Proverbs 3:27–28 (KJV) ~ “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.”
Proverbs 3 is part of the wisdom instruction traditionally associated with Solomon. Throughout this chapter, a father teaches his son the importance of trusting the Lord, walking in wisdom, and demonstrating godly character through everyday decisions. Earlier in the chapter, Proverbs 3:5–6 instructs the reader to trust the Lord with all his heart and acknowledge Him in all his ways. But by verses 27–28, the teaching becomes very practical. Trusting God must influence not only what you believe but also how you treat others and respond to responsibilities within your ability.
The instructions were direct and to the point, “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.” The emphasis is upon the responsibility to act when something good or right is owed to another person and you have the ability to provide it. This may involve honoring an obligation, treating someone fairly, giving what is due, or responding to a legitimate need. Verse 28 then warns against sending someone away with the promise of tomorrow when the means to respond are already available today. Notice that the scripture does not command you to meet every need you encounter, nor does it suggest that you must act without wisdom or consideration. The phrase “when it is in the power of thine hand to do it” establishes an important distinction. The responsibility concerns what is right and presently within your ability, not what lies beyond your resources, authority, or capacity.
This passage reveals that procrastination is not always a matter of poor time management. Sometimes it becomes a matter of withholding what should already have been done. When you know what is right, possess the ability to respond, and continually postpone the action without good reason, the delay itself deserves examination.
James 4:17 reinforces this truth: “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” In the preceding verses, James reminds believers that tomorrow is uncertain and that their plans must remain submitted to God’s will. Then he closes with a warning about failing to do the good one knows to do. Together, these teachings reveal the connection between surrender and responsibility. You cannot guarantee another day, but you remain accountable for how you respond to the opportunities and obligations before you. Ephesians 5:15–17 also instructs believers to walk carefully, live wisely, redeem the time, and understand the will of the Lord. Paul is not encouraging believers to fill every moment with activity. He is calling them to live with spiritual discernment in a world where foolish choices can consume valuable opportunities. These passages bring us to today’s central truth. When God has made a responsibility clear and placed the ability to respond within your hands, continually postponing it may become more than a scheduling issue. It may become an issue of obedience.
Have you ever said this to yourself over and over again, “I’ll take care of that tomorrow,” only to discover that tomorrow arrived and you still had not done it? Perhaps it was a conversation you needed to have, a responsibility requiring your attention, a commitment you made, or something God had been impressing upon your heart. You knew it needed to be addressed, but because it was uncomfortable, inconvenient, or required more effort than you wanted to give, you continued moving it to another day. At first, the delay may have seemed harmless. You told yourself that you were busy, tired, or waiting for a better time. But as the days passed, the unfinished responsibility remained, and every time it crossed your mind, you found another reason to postpone it. Now consider how easily this pattern can move beyond ordinary tasks and begin affecting your spiritual life.
You may have been meaning to spend more intentional time in prayer, reconnect with someone, fulfill a promise, extend kindness, or address a situation you have been avoiding. You may even recognize something that needs to change in your attitude or conduct yet continue telling yourself that you will deal with it when life becomes less demanding. But what happens when tomorrow becomes the place where you continually deposit the responsibilities of today? Last week, we learned that life is like a vapor and that tomorrow is not promised. We examined the importance of releasing yesterday, trusting God through uncertainty, and living in His Presence within our present. Now the Lord is challenging us to consider whether we have been faithful with the time we have already received. You cannot continually ask God for another opportunity while overlooking the opportunity He has already placed before you.
Sometimes procrastination is easy to recognize because you know you are avoiding something. At other times, it becomes more difficult to identify because it disguises itself as preparation. You may tell yourself that you are waiting until you feel more confident, until your circumstances improve, until someone else makes the first move, or until everything is perfectly arranged. You convince yourself that you are being careful when, in reality, fear or discomfort may be influencing your delay. Ecclesiastes 11:4 declares, “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.” In its context, this passage encourages wise action amid uncertainty. A farmer who refuses to sow until every condition is ideal may miss the opportunity to plant, just as one who waits for perfect weather may fail to gather the harvest.
This scripture does not encourage careless decisions. It challenges the tendency to demand perfect conditions before taking appropriate action. Perhaps you have been waiting for the perfect moment to begin something that requires discipline. You may want every resource available, every question answered, and every possible obstacle removed before you take the first step. Yet some responsibilities will never be completed if you insist that everything must be comfortable before you begin. You can seek wisdom, prepare responsibly, and acknowledge your limitations without allowing the pursuit of perfect conditions to become an excuse for indefinite delay. Preparation is valuable when it moves you toward responsible action. It becomes a problem when you use it to avoid the action you already know is necessary.
Proverbs 3:27–28 brings our attention to the people who may be affected by what we continually postpone. Sometimes the unfinished business of today is not simply an item on your personal list. It may involve someone waiting for you to fulfill a commitment, provide information, respond to a legitimate need, or honor an obligation. Maybe you promised to assist someone but never followed through. You may owe an apology but continue waiting for the other person to approach you first. You may recognize that someone needs encouragement yet assume you will have another opportunity to reach out and sometimes that is not the case, you need to cease every moment that God gives you. For every delay is intentional, and not every need is yours to meet. But when you have the ability to do what is right and repeatedly choose not to respond, Proverbs challenges you to examine your conduct. It’s time to check yourself!
In Luke 10:30–37, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan in response to a question about loving one’s neighbor. A wounded man is left along the road, and others pass by without assisting him. The Samaritan, however, sees the man’s condition, has compassion, and takes practical steps to provide care. The significance of this parable is not merely that the Samaritan felt compassion. His compassion became visible through action. You may genuinely care about someone, but there are moments when love requires more than a good intention. It may require your time, attention, generosity, patience, or willingness to respond to a need within your ability.
Galatians 6:10 encourages believers to do good to all people as they have opportunity, especially to those of the household of faith. The phrase “as we have therefore opportunity” reminds you that opportunities to demonstrate goodness should be recognized and handled wisely. You may not be able to help everyone, but you can remain attentive to the people and responsibilities God has placed within your reach. And sometimes, the good you keep planning to do tomorrow is the very good that needs your attention today. James 4:17 declares that knowing to do good and failing to do it is sin. This is a serious reminder that obedience is not measured only by the wrong things you refuse to do. It also involves your willingness to respond to what you know is right.
You may be careful about avoiding certain behaviors while overlooking the responsibilities you have repeatedly neglected. You may know that forgiveness, honesty, generosity, humility, and love are important, yet continue postponing opportunities to practice them; and maybe, and I mean just maybe God has been dealing with your attitude towards someone, but you keep justifying your response. Maybe you recognize that a conversation is necessary, yet you have allowed pride to prevent you from initiating it. You may know that a commitment needs your attention, but you continue allowing other activities to take priority. This is where spiritual maturity requires honest examination. Hebrews 3:13 encourages believers to exhort one another daily, while it is called today, so that none become hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Within its context, the passage warns against unbelief and the danger of allowing the heart to become resistant to God’s voice.
When you repeatedly resist what you know is right can gradually make disobedience feel ordinary. (God Forbid!) What once troubled your conscience may eventually become something you justify without much thought. But the Holy Spirit’s conviction is not intended to leave you trapped in shame. It calls you toward repentance and a renewed willingness to respond faithfully. If God has made something clear through His Word, do not allow repeated excuses to replace obedience. Seek wisdom concerning how to respond, acknowledge what needs to change, and take the appropriate step. The more comfortable you become with postponing what is right, the easier it becomes to mistake delay for discernment.
There are some responsibilities you postpone not because you lack the ability to respond but because responding may require courage. There may be something in your life that requires you to acknowledge where you were wrong, establish a necessary boundary, confront an uncomfortable situation, or take the first step toward something you have been avoiding because of the fear of failure. Deep within, you may already know what needs to be done, yet hesitation continues to hold you back. You find yourself wondering how others will respond, whether things will turn out as you hoped, or what might happen if you take that step. But consider this; how long will you allow the fear of what might happen tomorrow to keep you from obeying what God is calling you to do today? Yet obedience is not always convenient.
Colossians 3:23–24 encourages believers to work heartily as unto the Lord rather than merely for human approval. Within its original context, Paul addresses the conduct of believers in their responsibilities, emphasizing that their ultimate accountability is to Christ. This principle reminds you that faithfulness should not depend entirely upon whether a responsibility feels pleasant or receives recognition. There may be things you need to address quietly, without applause or immediate reward. There may be commitments you must honor even when your enthusiasm has diminished. There may be opportunities to do good that require sacrifice rather than convenience. But courage does not mean rushing into situations without wisdom. Some matters require prayer, preparation, appropriate support, or careful timing. The challenge is to distinguish necessary preparation from avoidance.
Ask yourself whether you are waiting because wisdom requires patience or because fear has convinced you that tomorrow will somehow make obedience easier. Sometimes tomorrow may provide better circumstances. But sometimes tomorrow simply becomes another opportunity to repeat the same excuse, you need to learn how to steward today without becoming overwhelmed by your circumstances. As we examine the unfinished business of today, I want you to remember something important: God is not asking you to complete every unfinished responsibility in a single day. There may be tasks that require additional time, resources, cooperation, or healing. Some matters cannot be resolved immediately, and attempting to accomplish everything at once may create unnecessary pressure.
The purpose of this devotional is not to make you feel guilty about every incomplete assignment. It is to help you identify the responsibilities you have been avoiding despite having a reasonable opportunity to respond. Psalm 90:12 declares, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Moses’ prayer reminds us that recognizing the brevity of life should lead us toward wisdom. Wisdom helps you distinguish what is urgent from what is important, what is within your responsibility from what belongs to someone else, and what requires immediate action from what requires patient preparation; and you may need to begin with one conversation, one decision, one act of kindness, or one responsibility you have continually postponed. You may need to acknowledge an obligation and establish a realistic plan for fulfilling it. The goal is not perfection; the goal is faithful responsiveness.
And as we return to the prayer that has guided our journey, let these words become personal; “Father, teach me how to live within the confines of my day, that I may flow in Your Presence in my present, and not in tomorrow nor my past, in the Name of Jesus Christ.” Last week, this prayer helped us release tomorrow’s uncertainty. Today, it challenges us to examine what we are doing with the present. You cannot control every circumstance, but you can seek God’s wisdom concerning your response. You cannot guarantee another opportunity, but you can recognize the opportunities presently before you. You cannot accomplish everything at once, but you can begin addressing what is rightfully yours to do. And maybe the most important question today is not what you hope to accomplish tomorrow, but what you already know needs your attention right now, today.
I want you to do me a favor and consider whether there is a responsibility, conversation, commitment, or act of kindness that you have continually postponed; and ask yourself why have you delayed doing it? Ask yourself is because, additional preparation is genuinely necessary, or because the responsibility makes you uncomfortable? Ask God to reveal what is within your ability to address today and what requires a wise plan for the days ahead. Consider whether someone has been affected by your delay and whether there is an appropriate step you can take toward honoring your responsibility. And most importantly, ask yourself, what have you been asking God to give you more time to do when He has already given you an opportunity to begin?
Let’s Pray:
Father, in the mighty and matchless Name of Jesus Christ, I come before You with a grateful heart, thanking You for another day of life and another opportunity to grow in wisdom and obedience. Thank You for the mercy that has sustained me and for the grace that continues to meet me in my present circumstances. I acknowledge that my time belongs to You and that the opportunities before me should be approached with humility, gratitude, and responsibility. Father, as I begin this second week of my devotional journey, search my heart and reveal the things I have continually postponed. Show me where fear, pride, distraction, discomfort, or misplaced priorities have prevented me from responding to what I know is right. Forgive me for the times I have made promises without following through, recognized opportunities to do good but neglected them, or delayed responsibilities simply because they required more effort than I wanted to give. Lord, I do not want to become someone who speaks about obedience while continually postponing the actions obedience requires. Teach me to recognize the difference between wise preparation and unnecessary delay. Where I need patience, give me patience. Where I need additional information, provide wisdom. Where I need courage, strengthen my heart. And where I already know what is right and have the ability to respond, help me stop allowing excuses to govern my decisions. Father, teach me how to live within the confines of my day, that I may flow in Your Presence in my present, and not in tomorrow nor my past, in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ. Help me stop carrying tomorrow’s uncertainties while neglecting today’s opportunities. Teach me to approach my responsibilities with wisdom rather than anxiety and with discipline rather than avoidance. Lord, where my delays have affected others, give me humility to acknowledge my responsibility and wisdom to make things right where possible. Where I owe an apology, help me speak with sincerity. Where I have failed to honor a commitment, guide me toward responsible action. Where someone is waiting for assistance that is genuinely within my ability to provide, help me respond with compassion and discernment. Father, guard me against the temptation to confuse busyness with faithfulness. I may be occupied with many activities while neglecting what matters most. Help me examine my priorities and recognize the responsibilities You have entrusted to me. Teach me to use my time wisely without becoming consumed by the pressure to accomplish everything at once. Lord, give me courage to begin what I have been avoiding. When fear of failure attempts to stop me, remind me that growth often requires humble beginnings. When pride makes an apology difficult, soften my heart. When discomfort tempts me to postpone an important conversation, grant me wisdom concerning the appropriate time and manner to respond. Father, help me remember that not every responsibility can be completed immediately, but every responsibility deserves honest consideration. Give me discernment to know what requires action today, what requires preparation, and what must be entrusted to Your timing. Protect me from unnecessary guilt concerning things beyond my control while convicting me concerning the matters I have knowingly neglected. As I continue this journey, teach me to redeem the time through wise decisions, faithful service, and genuine love. May I not become so focused on the future that I overlook the good I can do in the present. Help me recognize that obedience is demonstrated not only through the things I refuse to do but also through the good I willingly choose to accomplish. Father, I surrender my excuses, my fears, my misplaced priorities, and my tendency to postpone what is right. Give me a heart that is responsive to Your Word, a mind that seeks Your wisdom, and hands willing to serve where You have provided the opportunity. May this day become an opportunity for renewed faithfulness. Teach me to begin where I am, use what You have entrusted to me, and honor You through the responsibilities before me. In the Name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen and Amen!
Nugget ~ Tomorrow should not become the hiding place for what God has already placed within your responsibility today. When you know what is right and have the ability to respond, do not allow unnecessary delay to become a habit. You may not be able to do everything today, but you can be faithful with what is yours to do.
Blessings…
Love, Dr. Jean…
Ladies, you are invited you to join us for 31 Days of Pearls, Praise & Prayer in October!
For all 31 days of October, we will wear our pearls as a reminder to pause, praise God, and spend intentional time in prayer. Your pearls can be a necklace, bracelet, earrings, or ring. They do not have to be expensive or elaborate. The power is not in the pearls; it is just a sign that we are in unity, as our faith is in the Lord.
Each morning, put on your pearls, give God praise, and pray with us using the weekly prayer focus. Whenever you notice your pearls throughout the day, let them remind you to whisper a prayer. Before going to bed, take a moment to thank God for His faithfulness.
Our October Prayer Focus
| Week | Date | Theme |
| Week 1 | October 1–3 | Women’s Deliverance |
| Week 2 | October 4–10 | Women’s Heart |
| Week 3 | October 11–17 | Women’s Health |
| Week 4 | October 18–24 | Women’s Family |
| Week 5 | October 25–31 | Women’s Ministry |
Ladies, put on your pearls, lift up your praise, and join us in prayer every evening throughout October at 7:10 PM Central Time!
Dial-in: 1-978-990-5000
Access Code: 570381
For more information: drjean@kplegacyhouse.org
Discover more from Transformed at the WELL Devotional Ministry
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