Today's "To Do" List

 May 3, 2024

Friday

What's on your "To Do" list? If you make one, like I do, you put the things that must be done first. Then, you list what should be done. Last, there is the "nice to do" things follow. Things will go haywire if you get these things out of order. Of course, God can change your plans. Everyone needs to be sensitive to that.

So, what's on the "Must Be Done" list?

1. Acknowledge God by thanking Him for what He has done and honoring Him by praising Him for who He is. Failure to do this step is the root for many to stray away from God. They can't even see Him in creation. They come up with speculations and theories that leave God completely out of every day.

Romans 1:21 (NASB 2020) ²¹ For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened.

2. Spend time with God in prayer. This has two parts. First, confess any known sin. Remember that if we say that we have no sin that His word is not in us.

1 John 1:9–10 (NASB 2020) ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

Second, commit your life on this day without any reservations. Remember that Jesus was committed to His Father's will above saving His own life. That is what we pray when we repeat the Lord's Prayer.

Matthew 6:10 (NASB 2020) ¹⁰ ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

3. Read and meditate on God's word. Many times God's word will help you understand what you are doing. Many times the answers to other prayers are found in God's word. It is essential for you to walk with the Lord.

2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB 2020) ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

4. Join God in what you see Him doing. This was Jesus method of acting in His Father's will. You, too, need to look at what is happening, note what God is doing and join Him in it. For example, God is bringing divorced people to the church. You look to where you can minister to them. Or, God is pressing you to pray, join Him by inviting others to pray with you.

John 5:19 (NASB 2020) ¹⁹ Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way.

5. Depend on His strength for the day. This includes what you will do with Him and the attacks that you will endure from the evil forces coming against you. Those who say they never see the devil must be traveling along the same path or they would run into him. You need strength to put everything in perspective. You need strength to know that this is not your home. You need strength to walk when you would normally be weary.

Philippians 4:13 (NASB 2020) ¹³ I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Keep this "To Do" list and your days will be His. They might not be easy. They might have many disappointments. They might even see tragedy. But you will know that God is with you and will bring you through whatever you face.