Scriptural Foundation:
Psalm 27:4-6 New King James (NKJV)
One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
Reflection:
I have a to-do list the length of my arm every day. For me, some tasks are dependent on others, so they remain on the list for long periods of time. Couple that with my prayer list and the waiting period associated with my requests, it can all become very discouraging. Although I never talked about it, one day the Lord brought it to my attention my cookie cutter response to “How are you doing?”. When someone would ask me that question I would either say “I am doing well, thank you” or simply “Maintaining”. The Lord impressed upon me, that Jesus didn’t die on the cross for me to let the world know when asked that I am maintaining.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. – John 10:10
The fundamental challenge with a list is that whether you accomplish everything or don’t make a dent in it, it is always there. When we ask Jesus into our lives, He tells us the same thing He told Peter when he asked to walk on water… “Come.” When Jesus becomes our Lord and Savior and we step out of the boat (rational thought) onto the water (supernatural thought) we are stepping out in faith. What keeps us walking on water is the blessed assurance of Lord’s love and anointing. This can only be attained through diligently seeking the Lord on a daily basis. And not one of those “drive by” sessions, but truly abiding in His presence.
What the Lord showed me was that, I was out of the boat, but instead of walking on water, like Jesus did, I was treading water. Sure, treading water caused ripple effects in my life and in the lives of those around me, but I was not advancing in the Spirit with this approach. The Lord created time to be temporary. We have one path through this life, to make the most impact for the Kingdom. Do you want to make a big splash or a tiny ripple? Beloved, don’t get burdened by the things that you feel are not being accomplished. Instead, press in each day to His presence. Have the Holy Spirit dictate your to-do list. Not only will you find that things get done, but you will find and keep your peace.
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. -Psalm 16:11
Seeking Revelation:
Grab your notebook:
- List the top three things that have been on your mental to-do list for last six months.
- Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance – i.e. Should these things be on your list to begin with?
- Set a goal for yourself – at any given time your list shouldn’t have more than 3-7 items on it. If you’re lead by the Spirit, find an accountability prayer partner.
Remember above all else to advance in the Lord in all that you do!