If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.

Mark Twain

Perhaps you’re familiar with the Mark Twain quote. Or you may be familiar with the bestselling “Eat That Frog” book by personal and professional development guru, Brian Tracy. Or you could be wondering why we are even having a conversation about eating frogs. Gross!

The premise of both the quote and the book is something like this: Do the most dreaded item on your task list first, and the rest of your list will be a piece of cake (my very loose paraphrase). The result is a highly productive day—one that leaves you proud of yourself and ready to jump into the following day with gusto!

Sounds good in theory, doesn’t it? Yet I failed on Monday and Tuesday and even Wednesday of last week to complete that most dreaded item on my task list. I was getting some things done, but still had an incredibly formidable task stuck right there on the page. To make matters worse, I use a daily planner, with a daily list, so I had to physically write the item on my list again and again and again.

On Wednesday evening, as I spent a few minutes planning for Thursday, I actually blocked off time in my schedule for “frog-eating.” I made that my primary focus for the day, determined to choke down the frog once and for all. And you know what? I still didn’t eat it. And by Friday I not only didn’t eat my frog, but I threw up my hands and eschewed everything—EVERY SINGLE ITEM—on my to-do list!

And then I beat myself up for being so ridiculous, for allowing my feelings to direct my day, for not being productive, for refusing to eat my frog. By the time I went to bed Friday night, I had fully castigated myself for my laziness, procrastination, lack of motivation, etc.

I was still mentally lashing myself on Saturday as I opened my Bible and turned to Psalm 73 (Just a random Psalm I chose in that moment). I read in verse 26, “My flesh and my heart may fail,….” That verse grabbed me as I pondered the working of my flesh, my natural being, the part of me that falls prey to discouragement, lack of discipline, lack of motivation, procrastination.

The heart is that innermost part of us. We can think of the heart as the center of a person’s thoughts and emotions. Oh, how my flesh and heart fail at times to maintain a healthy perspective!

“But God,” Psalm 73:26 continues, “is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

“But God.”

Don’t you love those words? But God is the strength of my heart. The Hebrew word translated “strength” in this verse is most often translated as “rock.” God is my Rock. My secure place. My fortress. He is my portion, my share, forever and ever.

He is the one who picks me up when I fall (Psalm 145:14), whose love is unfailing (1 Chronicles 16:34), and whose mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). His power is demonstrated most visibly in the midst of my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). He delights in his people (Zephaniah 3:17), and he gives wisdom to all who ask (James 1:5). Shall I go on? I’ve barely scratched the surface of what God promises to those who are his.

Now I am faced with a choice. I can continue to give in to my flesh, wallow in discouragement, allow my thoughts and emotions to have full reign over my day, or I can turn my thoughts to God, and remind myself often of the source of my strength.

Guess what’s back on the menu for tomorrow.

Is it simply me? Or is there a “frog” on your to-do list as well? What keeps you from completing the task? Perhaps you are more of a go-getter and don’t struggle with procrastination the way that I do. Is there another area where you seem to consistently be called to battle against your flesh, your heart, your emotions? What are some practical tips we could use to become more mindful of the promises we find in God’s Word?