Some people are spiritually lazy, particularly when it comes to prayer. Laziness in the area of prayer can destroy your destiny. You cannot live a standard life when you are lazy in spiritual matters. When they should pray, they play; so if you do not pray, you are playing.

When they should study the Word of God, they are busy watching television. When they should fast, they eat three full meals a day with ice cream and snacks in between; when they should hold a prayer vigil, they sleep and snore; when they should go to the house of God, they are busy with unnecessary visits and various recreations.

This is why many Christians live defeated lives and never accomplish anything for God. You must master your spirit. A man who does not have control over his spirit is like a city without walls, and anything can come in and go out. Discipline your spirit to be spiritually diligent. Read Genesis 2:5-6, Ezekiel 22:30, Isaiah 32:15, Zechariah 10:1.

We need spiritual rain to accelerate our work, and it is at this precise moment that prayer and certain spiritual exercises are important. Read 1 Timothy 4:8; 1 Kings 18:41-46. There are abundant waters in heaven, but you must work in prayer to form the cloud that will bring the rain (Jeremiah 10:13).

SOME KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF A LAZY PERSON.

Everything you want to achieve and become in life is waiting for you, provided you are willing to pay the price. Success is never an accident. People think, talk, plan, pray, and work to succeed. Failure, too, is not an accident.

When people fail to diligently apply the principles of success consistently, failure is inevitable. You must understand that it is your responsibility to eliminate laziness from your life and begin to pay the price for success.

Many people in the body of Christ have developed an idle lifestyle (of laziness) and wish and hope for success. For such people, success always remains a mirage. The Bible warns us against laziness. Some key characteristics of laziness can be identified:

1. He or she is full of excuses – Proverbs 26:13.
2. He or she is very pessimistic – Proverbs 26:13.
3. He or she speaks negatively – Proverbs 26:13.
4. He or she only sees obstacles, not possibilities – Proverbs 26:13.
5. He or she loves pleasure or feels sorry for themselves – Proverbs 26:14.
6. He or she will not take responsibility for what needs to be done – Proverbs 26:15.
7. Lazy people have a very high opinion of themselves – Proverbs 26:16, Romans 12:3.
8. They never listen to good advice and do not accept good suggestions (Proverbs 26:16). Read Matthew 25:24-26.

One of the things that must be immediately rejected in the lives of many people in Africa is idleness and not necessarily demons. If you believe that God will act on your behalf, think also about what you need to eat.

Do not join the band of lazy people who spend their time visiting during working hours and speaking in tongues at home at noon, thereby attributing their laziness to God. The servant in the scripture above did not trade with his potential and therefore did not profit from it because he armed himself with excuses, blaming circumstances, while his colleagues were busy multiplying theirs (Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12).

There is no reason that justifies your failure. Failure is an “anti-covenant.” The beginning of failure is mental failure. Listen to this: there is a stage you will reach in life where nothing but progress and constant improvement will be expected of you. So get to work immediately, stop giving excuses!

Cultivate a lifestyle of diligence starting today and rid yourself of laziness and insolence. Idleness and sleepiness should never come near you. Work hard, work smart with your hands. There are many blessings that diligent work brings you:

1. It will give you a fruitful life.
2. It will make you self-sufficient; you will not depend on anyone for food.
3. It will make you prosperous and wealthy.
4. It will make you a blessing to God’s work, your family, and your nation.
5. It will make God entrust you with specific divine duties.
6. Finally, it will make you a good example for the body of Christ and your nation.

“The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy hand will be put to forced labor.” Proverbs 12:24

Africa needs people who are inclined to work and not talkers because talking is much cheaper, and you cannot be a sheep if all you can do is talk! Please, fellow Africans and beloved people of the Most High, work with your hands, and you will find yourself at the top of the ladder of success.

This text is an excerpt from the book  “ The 12 Giants and the Killer Spirits in Africa ” written by Victor Charles OKAFOR.

We invite you to read the following article, “SABOTAGE“.

SPIRITUAL LAZINESS