Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well.

Matthew 6:33 (NCV)

Most of us use all sorts of lists in our daily lives. To-do lists, shopping lists, wish lists, and even guest lists help us stay on track and follow through with our intentions. God, who created order and meaning out of chaos, probably likes that our lists give us order and meaning. After all, He gave us lists, too. He gave us a list on stone tablets we call the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). He gave us the list of ethics for believers called the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-11) and listed the fruit of the Spirit, the virtues that He develops in us (Galatians 5:22-23). What if we allowed Jesus to write our daily to-do lists? Would they look anything like our own?

If Jesus wrote your to-do list, He would write “forgive your enemies”, “love the outcasts”, and “share MY story” right at the top. Next, He would add plenty of devoted prayer time that you typically squeeze in last. If Jesus wrote your to-do list, He would write “buy food for the hungry”, instead of buying more useless stuff you simply don’t need. He would tell you to invite the lost to church, to give hope and encouragement to the sick and the lonely, and to shine His light wherever you go. If Jesus wrote your to-do list, He would replace all the striving with surrender and stillness, and He would remind you to be more concerned about the filth in your heart than the dirt in your home. If Jesus wrote your to-do list, He would have you keep track of His blessings, not the number of likes on Instagram. And He would definitely move your Bible to the top of that stack of books you’ve been meaning to read. 

As you make your to-do list this week, make sure it is filled with the priorities of heaven. Make the most of each day by deepening your relationship with Jesus, enriching the lives of those around you, and reaching those who are far from God. When you become a blessing, the greatest joy will be yours. You are loved!