Why “I’ll Do it Later” is Problematic

Recently, I participated in a play with my classmates. The theme was the relationship between God and humans. I played the part of an average human.

In the play, the human is lying on the couch when their phone dings. There are two notifications, one from God, and one from their friends.

Do you know what they did? The human ignores God’s invitation to be together, and instead, goes to their friends’ house, completely disregarding God’s outstretched hand.

Often, this is what we do—we ignore God. We say things like…

“Oh, I’ll read my Bible this evening.”

“I can pray a bit later. For now, I’m going to watch a movie.”

“I’ll spend time with God tomorrow morning. I have a deadline tonight.”

We say these things, but do we ever actually do it later? If we’re honest, we’d admit that we rarely follow through. We get caught up watching videos or scrolling socials and prioritize doing lesser things when God should be our priority.

Here is what I want to say to you—there is no later.

There Is No Later

If you say you’re going to read your Bible after a round of video games, chances are, later is not going to come. You’ll forget all about it, and then at night, when you’re in bed, you’ll say something like, “Oh, I completely forgot! I’ll read my Bible tomorrow.”

The problem with this “I’ll do it later” mindset is that it makes it impossible to build a habit. Because whether we “do it later” is dependent upon our feelings later. But in order to grow in our walk with God, we can’t rely on our feelings. We have to make it a habit to read the Bible every day or pray each night before bed whether we feel like it or not.

I’m not saying that this is easy; in fact, it’s one of the hardest things in life—getting yourself to do something that seems less fun or less important.

It’s something I’ve always struggled with, and I still struggle with it. However, I have found some things that have helped me. Here is what I have learned:

1. Rewire How You Think About Time with God

If you think that being with God is less fun or less important than anything else in life, then it’s time to rewire your thinking.

God is the priority in our lives as Christians. Exodus 20:3 says, “You shall have no other gods before Me.”

The moment we think that something like writing, video games, or being with friends is more important than God and we place those things above Him, we’ve made them idols.

It’s extremely important that we realize when we’re doing this and repent to God.

2. Recommit to Letting God Order Your Day

Today, it is so easy to be swept away by what’s on the internet or in the world and allow everything other than God to order our day.

This is why I would suggest creating a habit of reading the Bible and simply being with God around the same time every day, whether in the morning as you eat your breakfast or right before you go to bed. You could even do a daily walk and just be in His presence.

Then after you carve out that time for Him, be careful not to let anything steal it away. Don’t push it back for later (there is no later, remember?). Do it that very moment! Guard your time with God diligently.

3. Remember That God Loves You

Even if you forget to read your Bible (again), or if you always put off spending time with God, remember this: God still loves you.

He still loves you; He forgives you. And guess what else?

You can always try again!

Psalm 86:15 (ESV) says, “But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

He will always love you, and you can always depend on His love and faithfulness, even if you fail repeatedly. Because He is always there for you, and His love will always be abounding.

Live for Eternity Now!

If you’re reading this, I hope it was the little nudge you needed to start implementing these truths and practices into your life.

Rewire how you think about time with God, place Him as your priority in life, and remember that He loves you, no matter what you do.

Every time you catch yourself saying “I’ll do it later,” remember, there is no later.

There is only now, and what you choose to prioritize in that moment. Let it be God. Let it be eternal things and not temporal ones.

Will you go ahead and live with other things as your priority, or will you put God as your priority?