I'm a big fan of to-do lists. I like LOVE the satisfaction of crossing something off or completing it and moving on to the next item. While I may have way too many lists, they help motivate me, keep me accountable, and not forget something in the busy-ness of life. In other words, they give me a sense of control. And, if I'm honest, my to-do list is one of the few things in my life which I can control. Whether it's big things or small, there's a lot that just is what it is, and we have to deal with the good, bad and ugly every day.
But today, I had an insight about my relationship with God and my attempts to control that as well! Thankfully, I don't have to achieve a certain status or perfection in my life to be in a relationship with God, but I do like to bring my lists to God. That's not a bad thing at all, but I tend to present them in the following mindset, "Okay God, here's where I'm struggling, and this is the healing I'm praying for, and I'm lifting up XYZ." Sounds a lot like my to-do lists. But prayer, and especially a relationship with God, is not lived out in a checklist of to-dos. Moving through my prayer requests doesn't get me to the next level or earn me a gold star. When I think I'm being efficient and organized, I'm actually missing the bigger picture. My relationship with God is not lineal, nor are his graces and blessings and answered prayers. Yet I get stuck on a situation or I continue pounding on a closed door because I've limited how I want to receive God's answer.
