Wednesday, 24th July, 2024
Bible Reading: Hebrews 12:1-2
Memory Verse: Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)
Delayed gratification is defined as the act of resisting an impulse to take an immediate available reward in the hope of obtaining a more-valued reward in the future. The ability to delay gratification is essential for self-regulation, or self-control. It is the inner ability to say No to today’s pleasure in view of tomorrow’s greatness.
A sister once wrote, “When I was sacrificing my looks and pleasure during my NYSC to save up for my business, it didn’t make sense to a lot that a corper who was receiving monthly allowance was always complaining she didn’t have money for certain things. I literally had to cut my hair at some point because almost everything I was getting was saved up to start a business. It didn’t make sense to many. I still remember that my nickname was ‘stingy koko’. Whenever there was a hangout that needed any sort of contribution, my co corp members will exclude me. They will say, “Adija will say she does not have money. She’s always broke.” I sacrificed alot just to start up my business in 2020. I could not go out like my friends were doing. I could not get myself a good phone like my friends were doing. I could not afford to make my hair every two weeks or every month like my friends were doing. But when it looked like I was being very stingy to myself, only I knew that in order to be able to fulfil my dream of being a foodstuff vendor, I will have to make a lot of sacrifices in order to see it coming true.
Pastor Sunday said, “Without delayed gratification, there is no self- control. Without delayed gratification, there is no power over self. Delayed gratification helps you to do more, makes you persistent, and helps you get better reward and greater profit. After delayed gratification comes greater reward, better profit and greatness.”
Question: As a worker, student, professional, business person or student, are you ready to delay your gratifications for pleasure, sleep, food, sex, money, glory, etc., in order to achieve your golden dreams?
Quote: We all must suffer one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret – Jim Rohn
Prophetic Decree: Receive grace to say No to costly immediate gratifications, in Jesus name.
Prayer Focus
- Thank you Father for your Word of grace and glory.
- I receive grace to say No to any appetite or desires that could cost me my glorious future, in Jesus name.
- O Lord, please help me to stand alone if that is what will preserve my destiny, in Jesus name.
- Destiny wasters, be wasted, in Jesus name.
- I receive wisdom and emotional fortitude to navigate times and seasons, in Jesus name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 35-36