Stop Adding It to the To-Do List: The Power of Immediate Obedience

We’ve all done it. Someone asks for our help, we nod, add it to our ever-growing to-do list, and think, I’ll get around to that later. But “later” often becomes never—or at least, not soon enough.

Recently, I had a revelation in my marriage that reshaped how I see obedience to God and leadership itself.

My wife, Marilyn, often asks me for small, day-to-day things:

• Order something the kids need on Amazon

• Call the insurance company about coverage considerations

• Program the coffee pot for the next morning

For a long time, I treated these requests like tasks: note them, add them to my list, and get to them… eventually. I told myself, I’ll handle it when I can carve out the time.

But here’s what I realized: when I delayed, even if I eventually completed the task, she actually seemed less appreciative that I had worked her concerns into my busy schedule. My expectations of gratitude were often met with frustration, irritation, or maybe not even acknowledged at all. And that was because to her, it felt like a chore done out of duty, not love.

The shift came when I started acting immediately and fully on those requests. Not tomorrow. Not later tonight. Right now. The impact was unmistakable—her smile, her gratitude, and, most importantly, a deeper closeness in our relationship.

And it hit me: this is exactly what God was teaching about our relationship with him.

Saul’s Lesson in Partial Obedience

In 1 Samuel 15, God told King Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites. Saul almost obeyed. He wiped out most of what God commanded, but he spared the king and the best livestock—claiming he’d use them for sacrifice.

When confronted, Saul insisted he had carried out God’s command. But Samuel’s response was sharp:

“To obey is better than sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 15:22)

Saul thought delayed and partial obedience was good enough. But God called it rebellion. That may sound harsh, but anytime we choose to act on anything other than what He's already told us to do, we reveal our true priority in life. We exchange trust in Him for our own ambition, convenience, and agenda.

Why This Hits Home

What Saul missed is the same thing I was missing with Marilyn: obedience delayed is relationship diminished.

• Partial obedience is disobedience.

• Delayed obedience communicates your priorities matter more than the one asking.

• Immediate obedience communicates love, trust, and honor.

When I delayed acting on Marilyn’s requests, it wasn’t just about coffee pots or insurance calls. It was about whether I valued her voice enough to make it a priority.

The same is true with God. When He prompts you—call that person, give generously, start that project, forgive that offense—He isn’t asking for it to be penciled into your future plans. He’s asking for action now.

The Procrastinator’s Trap

Most leaders don’t reject God’s voice outright. They procrastinate. They intend to obey… later. They rationalize that their timing is wiser, their list is fuller, their way is more efficient.

But here’s the truth:

• The call you delay may be the breakthrough you’re praying for.

• The step you postpone may be the one that transforms your family, your business, or your soul.

• The obedience you push to tomorrow may cost you the closeness with God you long for today.

A Better Way Forward

Here’s the shift that changed everything for me:

Stop adding it to the list. Start acting on it in the moment.

• If God prompts you, do it now.

• If your spouse asks for something, respond immediately.

• If your team needs support, show up before it’s convenient.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about posture. It’s about saying with your actions, “Your voice matters more than my convenience.”

And just like with Marilyn, you’ll discover something beautiful: immediate obedience builds intimacy.

Closing Thought

Every day, God gives us opportunities to respond in obedience. Not someday. Not later. Now.

Don’t let procrastination rob you of the closeness you were designed for.

After all, as Samuel told Saul, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” And I’d add: to obey now is better than to promise later.

👉 Question for you: What have you been adding to your “later list” that God is asking you to act on today?