Okay, I confess…I make lists. Lists of the things I need to accomplish each day. Lists of the things I need to buy at the store. Lists of my daily food and exercise. Lists of my goals. List of prayers. And the list goes on…
I’m certain that lists aren’t bad in themselves, they are a great organizational tool. Lists help me to focus myself and to use my time efficiently, and lists help me to complete the tasks that are necessary for my life to run smoothly and efficiently. Lists help me to meet my expectations and the expectations others place upon me. But do lists ever get in the way and cause me to perseverate on what is written on the list, rather than how I view and react to the world around me?
Once I heard the statement, “We are human beings, not human doings.” Of course I don’t know who said it because I didn’t write it on my list! However, it causes me to ask myself, do I put too much emphasis on the things that I must do and forget to be flexible enough to be in the moments of life and to see and appreciate the people around me? To be sure, this is my challenge.
Can I possibly set aside my lists and allow my days to just “happen” while still being productive? It is clear that I still have responsibilities to myself and others. I have certainly felt the embarrassment of not being prepared for something, letting someone down when I didn’t finish a task, or even felt the sting of a late fee for an overlooked bill. So how do I balance my lists to accomplish important tasks with the freedom to be able to set something aside? How do I manage my inner voice that berates me if I have not checked off all of my tasks at the end of the day?
God’s Word tells me, “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9. I believe that God wants me to have goals and plans, but He is the one who will guide my feet as I allow myself to have the flexibility to follow the detours on the path that He has set for me. It may be unexpected for me, but God already has it planned because He knows my ultimate destination. That path may be filled with planned events on my list, but it also may have special assignments that He plans for me.
So, each morning as I start my day, I will set aside the first minutes of the day to ask God how I can work in His plans. You see, so often I pray that God will bless me in my plans, but I think that I’ve got it backwards. I need to be working in His plans, because they are the lasting, true plans. I am working to trust my day to Jesus and look to His guidance.
For today, I will continue to make my lists. I may find relief in checking off the items as they are completed, but I will seek to feel more peace as I let some of the tasks go unchecked in exchange for a moment to stop and talk to a neighbor, or to spend time with a friend that is struggling with a problem, or even to take a leisurely walk with my dog to see the beauty all around me. I want to use my list as a suggested outline for my day and let God fill in the color to see the beauty of His world all around me.
Heavenly Father, I thank You that You have given me the desire to have goals that I set to accomplish each day. I pray for the discernment to follow my lists with Your path in mind and not to focus only on my tasks, but on the needs of people around me. Today, open my ears to hear Your voice and my eyes to see Your steps. Give me the faith to change my plans when You guide my steps in a different direction. In Jesus Name, Amen.