The Five Second Rule. Everyone – especially those with children – know about it. If food falls on the floor or some other non-serving surface, you have five seconds to retrieve it before the germs jump on it. Immediate response and action is required. Immediate decision: is this broccoli or is this sugary goodness? Often that determines my response and the timing of my response. The response becomes an innate behavior over time, which I obey without thinking – at least in the case of sugary goodness.
That kind of “obedience” is a bit rare. As a parent, getting my kids to obey, to do what I asked them to do (or rather told them to do, even though it was presented as a request), was often fraught with whining, refusal, bargaining, bribing, and huge amounts of procrastination. I don’t know if EVER we achieved innate, immediate obedience in any area of life, where my kids trusted that I had their best interest at heart, perhaps because sometime it was MY best interest that prompted my directions. What I do know is that the longer they procrastinated, the less likely it was that they would actually do what I asked. The moment passed.
How very often I do this with God. He directs, nudges, speaks to me and I second guess Him, question Him, whine, bargain, and procrastinate. The likelihood that I will not do what He gives me to do increases exponentially (or logarithmically depending on the request) the longer I wait to obey.
If I follow the Five Second Rule and act immediately before the germs of disobedience and willfulness jump, I can reap the sugary goodness of obedience to my Heavenly Father!
Just Sayin' 