Looks like my car wants to take center stage in my life lately. Last week, I wrote about my windshield washer fluid valve hiccup and no sooner do I get the car home and it began squealing at me. One quick peek under the hood and back to the mechanic I went.

This time, it was something called a “serpentine belt” that needed replacing. I’d never heard of this, but learned that it is the part that is responsible for moving the power from a car’s engine to its accessories, like the alternator,  steering pump, and others. Sounds important, no?

I wasted no time in getting it repaired. 

The dictionary defines the word “serpentine,” when used as a verb, as “to wind, to turn this way and that, or to twist.” An example might be when someone is telling a story, and they are serpentining instead of getting to the point.

Another way to think about it is when you know you need to do something, but you avoid it by serpentining and doing a bunch of other things. Sounds a bit like procrastination, doesn’t it?

The Bible has alot to say about procrastination in both the Old and New Testaments. It speaks to the importance of doing today’s work today for we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Being prepared and being diligent are a big deal. 

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12 NIV)

Why do we wait so long to do what we know is right and best for us? I looked up some of the underlying causes of procrastination and they include fear of failure, lack of motivation, decision fatigue, or resistance.

If we are feeling stressed about what we have to do or feel like we are being forced to do it, we may put it off as we view the task as unpleasant or scary.  We may be afraid because we don’t know the outcome, or how it’s all going to turn out, so we think it’s best to stay in our comfort zones.

Yet what happens then?

We stay stuck in whatever situation we’re in and never move forward into the purpose and plan that God has for us. We end up living lives of quiet desperation as Thoreau says.  

“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4 NIV)

This is NOT a life of faith. This is NOT the life Jesus died for us to have. He wants us to have joyful, fruitful, and prosperous lives serving others with the gifts and talents God gave us..

So – how do we “un-serpentine” ourselves?

First, we need to get a clear vision for our lives.

 Second, we need to establish goals for that vision that are do-able, and third, we need to step out and do it. aka take a leap of faith.

The Bible tells us to write the vision and make it plain (Habakkuk 2:2-3), but it doesn’t stop there.

The vision for your life doesn’t happen automatically. Just daydreaming about it doesn’t make it happen. It keeps your vision in a perpetual dream state, in “wish mode,” which is a straight path to regret.

Mr. Denzel Washington summed this up perfectly: “Dreams without goals are just dreams.”

Is there a dream or vision on your heart? Is there a call on your life? I want to encourage you this week to stop serpentining and start doing. With God on your side, nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).