Moving From Almost ready to Entirely Ready: Breaking Free from Spiritual Procrastination
- Dr. Matt Hook
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Have you ever found yourself saying "I'm almost ready" when it comes to making important changes in your life? Whether it's forgiving someone who hurt you, breaking a destructive habit, or fully surrendering your life to God, many of us live in what could be called "the land of almost."
What Makes the Graveyard the Richest Place on Earth?
The richest spot on the planet isn't a gold mine or a wealthy city - it's the graveyard. Buried there are inventions that were almost ready but never realized, books that were never written, and discoveries left uncovered because people were never quite ready to act. Most tragically, people lie there who said "no" to God because they were only ever "almost ready" to surrender their lives to Him.
The Difference Between Almost Ready and Entirely Ready
There's a world of difference between being almost ready and entirely ready. Think about it - when someone asks if you're ready to leave for the airport and you say "almost," what does that really mean? It means you're not ready.
Even the great theologian St. Augustine struggled with this. His prayer was, "Lord, make me sexually pure, but not yet." How many of our prayers sound similar? "Lord, make me less bitter, but not yet. Make me generous, but not yet. Make me humble, but not yet."
The Truth About Delayed Surrender
Delayed surrender is still resistance. When we say we're almost ready to forgive, almost ready to change, or almost ready to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, we're actually saying we're not ready at all.
What Does Step Six of Recovery Teach Us?
Step six of the twelve steps states: "We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character." This step comes after we've admitted our powerlessness, recognized God's strength, surrendered our will to Him, made a moral inventory, and shared our struggles with another person.
Being entirely ready means saying, "God, I am done defending the very things that are defeating me." Too often, we defend our attitudes ("it's just who I am"), our actions, and our apathy instead of recognizing how they're holding us back.
What Can We Learn from Bartimaeus?
The story of Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52 provides a powerful example of being entirely ready. This blind beggar was sitting by the roadside when he heard Jesus was passing by. Despite having every reason to stay quiet - he was poor, overlooked, and couldn't see - he began shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
The Crowd's Opposition
Many people told Bartimaeus to be quiet, but he shouted all the more. This represents both the external voices around us and the internal voices within us that whisper:
"You've always been this way"
"You're not good enough"
"You're going to fail again"
"Just blend in and don't make a scene"
Throwing Away the Cloak
When Jesus called for him, Bartimaeus did something remarkable - he threw his cloak aside. This cloak was his security, his identity, his livelihood. It was where people threw coins, his blanket at night, his protection from the cold. But he threw it away because he wouldn't be needing it anymore.
The miracle wasn't just that Bartimaeus received his sight - it's what he did next. He followed Jesus on the road and likely became a leader in the early church.
What Lies Keep Us Stuck in "Almost Ready"?
Henri Nouwen identifies three identity lies that keep us from being entirely ready:
I am what I have - Our possessions define us
I am what others think of me - Others' opinions determine our worth
I am what I do - Our productivity and performance define us
But Scripture tells us something radically different in 1 John 3:1: "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are."
How Can We Move from Almost to Entirely Ready?
Position Yourself Where Jesus Walks
Just as Bartimaeus positioned himself by the roadside where Jesus would pass, we need to position ourselves where we're likely to encounter Jesus - in worship, discipleship, ministry, and serving others.
Practice Habit Stacking
Instead of just trying to quit bad habits, replace them with better ones. This is called habit stacking:
Add prayer before meals
Read something spiritual before leaving work
Think of three things you're grateful for while making coffee
Pray the Lord's Prayer while brushing your teeth
Find Community
People who score highest in self-control spend less time resisting desires because they have good habits and supportive community. We're often as self-motivated as we're ever going to get, but we can be motivated by others. You might cancel on yourself, but you won't cancel on a friend.
What Does Jesus Ask Us?
Jesus asks the same question He asked Bartimaeus: "What do you want me to do for you?" He's not asking because He lacks information - He wants us to participate in our salvation. He does the saving, but He loves us so much that He invites us to bring more to Him as we discover it, day by day.
Life Application
This week, it's time to move from almost ready to entirely ready. Stop defending the very things that are defeating you. Whether it's anger you've learned to justify, an image you protect, a coping habit you excuse, or resentment you secretly nurture - throw the cloak aside.
Choose one specific area where you've been "almost ready" and take concrete action. Name your cloak - that one pattern, defect, or excuse you've been holding onto. Then stack a new habit to replace it. Position yourself where Jesus walks by connecting with others in community, worship, or service.
Questions for Reflection:
What is the "cloak" in your life that you've been defending instead of discarding?
Where have you been saying "almost ready" instead of taking action?
What specific habit could you stack this week to replace a destructive pattern?
How can you position yourself more intentionally where Jesus tends to show up in your life?
Remember, vague surrender produces vague change, but specific surrender opens up specific healing. Jesus is calling your name today - will you throw aside your cloak and follow Him entirely ready?
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