How to Tame Your To-Do List

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Reflections

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Posted On November 17, 2019

On Monday mornings, when we think about all the tasks we have to do in the coming week, we can feel overwhelmed. The mass of “stuff” can feel larger than the abominal snowman.
Listing those tasks can help tame that icy monster in our minds, but even then that Yeti can be frightening and crushing.

Our to-do lists can rule our lives. They either bolster our self-esteem as we check off our accomplishments, or they lambast us for not achieving what we intended. We soon become human to-do lists.

Years ago, Susan, a mentor, gave me advice about how to let my to-do list become part of my spiritual life so my list didn’t control me.

To begin with, she said to quietly pray or meditate each morning. Center yourself by asking the Creator for a word or short phrase to carry in your heart for the day.

If your mind races forward to all you have to do that day, tell yourself you and God will create your to-do list at the end of your quiet time. Let yourself simply rest with God in solitude.

As you approach the end of your meditation, Susan suggested asking the Creator this simple question: “What’s the work you’ve given me to do today?”

By asking this question, she said, “You’re praying your to-do list. You’re inviting God into the work of your hands for the day. So, take out your list, write down your tasks, and prioritize them as you and the Creator prayerfully consider what work you’ve been given for the day.”

This handy tool has become a source of comfort over the years. It stops my mind from fretting. It gives me order and direction for the day. I befriend the abominable snowman that once felt overwhelming.

Praying my to-do list also helps me be realistic. If it will be a demanding week, God nudges me to put “down-time” on my task list. He reminds me to schedule time to play, perhaps enjoying a long walk, snuggling up with a warm blanket and a good book, or doing something creative and life-giving.

Try praying your to-do list each morning this week. As you sit with the One who loves you and wants what’s best for you, ask the God of Infinite Love, “What’s the work you’ve given me to do today?” As you begin each day, let you and the Creator tame your to-do list.

—brian j plachta
brianplachta.net

Written by Brian J. Plachta

Following the Breadcrumbs God Leaves Along Our Path

What if God is speaking through ordinary moments more often than we realize?

A conversation that stays with us. A door that closes. A quiet nudge we can’t quite explain. An unexpected invitation that seems to come at just the right time.

The challenge is learning to notice these moments before we have any idea where they’re leading, and trusting the next step.

Over time, we may begin to see that God’s guidance doesn’t always come as an answer. Sometimes, it comes as a trail.

What to Do When God Seems Silent

Has silence ever made you feel like God is far away? When we feel this way, it’s easy to start looking for answers or waiting for a clear sign. But prayer can also be as simple as slowing down and noticing what’s already here. The breeze. The waves. Your breath. The quiet. God’s presence doesn’t always come through words. Sometimes we just need to be still enough to notice.

Let God Alone Define You

Ever have someone’s words get stuck in your head?
Maybe they criticized you, misunderstood you, or told a story about you that doesn’t feel true. And before long, you’re holding a courtroom in your mind—defending yourself, replaying the conversation, wondering if maybe they’re right.

There’s another way.

Bring it into the quiet with God.

Ask: Is there something here I need to learn? Is there something I need to own? And what was never mine to carry in the first place?

We can stay humble enough to receive the truth without letting someone else’s opinion become our identity.

Because in the end, God alone defines you.

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