Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. . . . for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. (Psalm 73: 23–28)
Before You Tackle Your To-Do List
What’s at the top of your to-do list today? If you’re like me, today’s to-do list is a mile long. Before we tackle those lists, let’s pause to remember one simple, unchanging truth about ourselves: we are beloved children of God who are invited to be with Him today.
When we find ourselves striving to “save the day” for God or scrambling to “do it all,” Micah 6 brings us back to the heart of the matter. In this passage we see a person just like us who is frantically wondering, “What should I do for you today, Lord? Should I tackle this and that? How can I save the day for this person and that person? How can I scurry around to please you?” And then, just as He does for us, God reminds the speaker about the most important things in life.
“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased withthousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6–8)
The Christian life is not just a ministry task list: it is an invitation to grow in Christlikeness and to walk with God himself.
What Would You Do If Your To-Do List Disappeared?
Imagine a father who brings his children to a playground. The kids dart off to climb on the jungle gym, conquer the monkey bars, and enjoy the swings. For a while, the kids are completely immersed in their imaginary world. They climb, swing, work, and create while their dad watches them with a smile on his face.
Then, suddenly, the playground equipment disappears.
Poof! It’s gone.
The kids look around, wondering what just happened. What should they do? What will occupy them now that the jungle gym is gone? What will bring them joy now that the swings are gone? They feel disoriented, uneasy. As their heartbeats quicken and their faces pale, they turn and see their dad. Just one look at Him and they snap back to reality, remembering that they are part of a much bigger world than the playground—they are part of their father’s world. Deeply relieved, they run to him, remembering who they are and whose they are. Their relationship with their father defines and steadies them. They are his kids. Nothing can change that. The joy they find in his presence is far greater than their joy on the playground. No comparison! With him, all is well.
You and I are like those kids. Sometimes we don’t realize how distracted we are with tasks, accomplishments, relationships, and activities. It’s helpful to remember that our heavenly Father is with us.
He is our identity.
He is our value.
He is our purpose in life.
He is our very present help in times of trouble.
He is the lover of our souls.
He created us and is acquainted with all our ways.
Consider how God demonstrates this in His interactions with people in Scripture: He pursues Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, the Israelites, David, the disciples, Nicodemus, Zaccheaus, Mary, Martha, Paul, and countless others. He always beckons people to be with Him, always saying, “You are my child and I love you. Let’s spend time together.”
Refresh Your Devotional Life
Today, let’s catch our breath and rediscover the unshakeable peace of being God’s child and of walking with Him through life.
As a refresher, are the basics of a devotional life:
Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20).
Fellowship with Jesus is as simple as opening the door of your heart and mind to Him, reading His Word, and talking to Him in prayer. He wants to be with you!
Do you ever get wrapped up in the idea of devotions and fail to actually do devotions? You’re not alone. I often spend more time scheduling, organizing, highlighting, and filling in Bible study answers than I do enjoying fellowship with God. It helps me to imagine that I’m meeting God for coffee. It’d be a shame if I spent the whole time talking about the coffee, the table, the atmosphere, how great it was that we were there together, and pulling out my planner to schedule the next time we could meet again. I’d miss out on hearing from Him, pouring my heart out to Him, and simply enjoying His company. Let’s not miss out on the pleasure and relief of true fellowship with God because we’re too wrapped up in the process. If you’re like me, you may need a hearty reminder to be with Him.
- Turn your face toward Him when you read His Word.
- Talk to Him when you pray.
- Take your time and enjoy your heavenly Father.
- (Oh, and one side note from one ministry-loving, people-loving woman to another . . . Resist the urge to instantly repackage your conversation as an Instagram post or material for your Bible study. (Don’t worry: you will have something to share if you simply abide with Christ.)
Need a place to start? Consider beginning with this verse: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (Is. 43:1).
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