How to Make a Better You – To-Do-List ~ Yours or God’s?
By Nina Sabin - Healthy Tip
If you are like me, every day I have a ‘to-do-list’. There is always something to be done and there never seems to be enough time in the day to get it all done. The problem is what is on that list. Is it things for yourself or things for God?
So often we stress ourselves because we think things ‘have to’ or ‘should’ be done. We even make it so extreme that in our mind it appears to be a life or death situation. The truth is most things are really not as big of a deal as we make them out to be and it doesn’t matter if they get done that day or not.
God designed us to reach out to people and be there for one another. Unfortunately, our ‘to-do-list’ gets in the way of developing relationships. We are so busy running errands, doing projects for work, doing chores, and helping with ministries, that we lose sight of what is important which is building relationships with one another.
So how do we move from doing our ‘to-do-list’ to God’s? It starts with prayer. Pray that God will show you how to get the things He wants you to accomplish for the day, it may be very different from what you think you should accomplish. We often miss opportunities to talk to someone in the grocery store because we are so focused on what we are doing. Many times our eyes are on our list and not on what is happening around us.
In Joyce Meyer’s devotional, Promises for Your Everyday Life, she says we do ‘works of the flesh’ when we are doing things without God’s power flowing through us. We know this because if affects our health physically, mentally, and spiritually. When we try to do things on our own and in our own way they become difficult to do, they drain our energy, cause us stress that can affect our hearts, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, as well as, they produce no joy or fulfillment. They often can be good things, but not ‘God things.’
Start your ‘to-do-list’ each day with God.
1) Begin each morning reading a daily devotional. I recommend the one I mentioned previously by Joyce Meyer. It takes about five minutes and you start your day with God. I actually have it as an app on my phone to make it more convenient. It is called YouVersion Bible and then there are lots of daily devotionals and studies you can read.
2) Next pray to God and ask for His direction for you for the day. This means to be available during the day for that person God puts in your path to listen and talk with about something. They may be hurting physically, just lost a loved one, or is feeling lonely after recently moving to a new community.
3) Take ‘have to’ and ‘should’ out of your vocabulary. When we use the word ‘have to’ or ‘should’ we are adding unnecessary stress on ourselves. Instead replace it with thinking,’ does it need to be done today’? Prioritize what you would like to accomplish with the understanding that you don’t need to do it all today.
4) Don’t go to sleep with your list on your mind. Write them down on a paper next to you and pray over them. God wants us to get a good sleep and keeping things in your mind will affect your sleep.
As you are planning today’s ‘to-do-list’ remember seek God as you write it. This will Make a Better You with less stress, more enjoyment in your day and more relationship building. You will also feel healthier in your mind, body, and spirit.
Think of this Bible verse as you start each day: Matthew 6:33 But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
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