Do you ever feel stagnant? Perhaps you used to have dreams for where you would be emotionally, physically, or socially by this point of your life but you lost track of time or experienced a tragedy and feel stuck now. Lists are a great way to make goals and view your progress! Today I’m going to share with you what has helped me recently to stop feeling so stuck and hopeless and prepare myself before my next big adventure happens. Sometimes we have to walk in valleys for a while before we start climbing the next mountain – but notice that word, “walk.” Not sit! Don’t stop developing, no matter what happens! As long as you draw breath YOU have a story unfolding for the world. So let’s write some lists together!
Grab your notebook or Inspiration Binder! I’m going to actually give you three list prompts today. 🙂
First, ask yourself if there is anything you have been asking God for that perhaps you haven’t received because you are clearly not ready – spiritually, mentally, emotionally. It’s okay to bring desires before the Lord. It’s not okay to demand that our desires be met at all costs or that they be met immediately. Sometimes we ask for things that we aren’t ready for and sometimes we ask for things that really won’t help us grow. God knows what we need, though He still wants us to ask so we can glorify Him when He answers – no matter the answer! All that to say, if you have been asking Him for something for a while, I want you to write that down. This is your “Would Be Nice…” list.
The “Would Be Nice…” list is basically something you have little to no control over. I’m going to be completely honest with you, my “Would Be Nice…” list has a number of qualities I would appreciate in a future husband, although I know I’m not ready to meet him yet. It’s a list about something I’m hopeful about and reminds me that I’m only asking because I know my God is so good and loves to give good gifts! I might not get what I ask Him for, but I can remember and know that He will only give me what is best for me and what will bring His name the most honor. In the meantime, I have a responsibility to keep obeying and trusting before receiving an answer. You might have qualifications for a nice house or job that you would like to find on your list. Any sort of opportunity that “would be nice,” really. You can skip this list, it is optional; it just makes me happy to know that God cares enough to hear me ask Him for things. That leads us to our next, and more important, list. The “But First!” list. Maybe I should change the name of it… nah.
In the “But First!” list you must write down what you would like to improve. I wrote down weaknesses to discard. On my list I have things like “eradicate my laziness, really love my family, own a healthy lifestyle, trust God” and more. Write as many as you want. I stopped at eight points. They were pretty generic points. That’s okay, because the third list is much more specific!
Our third list is called the “Working on Me” list. This is a list you will write regularly. You can do it once a day, once a week, or once a month, it’s up to you. Here’s how it works – you look at your “But First!” list and write about how you have been doing with each point. Being able to look at and compare your tangible progress through the “Working on Me” lists is so helpful!!! I enjoy it a lot, though it can be really convicting! Especially when you put “healthy lifestyle” on your list and then have to record that you’ve been gorging yourself on lava cakes a friend made you all week… heehee. So worth it to be honest with yourself though. This is how you learn to be your own motivational coach. This is a good way to push yourself and finally get some momentum. This is also how we realize that we often ask God for so much but don’t do the little things He asks of us – to love others as ourselves, to view our bodies as temples of His Spirit, or to hide His Word in our hearts.
So, give these lists a shot and tell me how they work out for you!
