The morning of the party had arrived. Because I wanted everything to be just right, I’d asked both Mark and our teenaged daughters to help.
Everyone had a list. Clean the bathroom. Dust your room. Unload the dishwasher. And because I like checking things off the list, each detail included a small hand-drawn box beside it. When all boxes are ticked, we’d be ready for company.
Are you a list maker?
My list making tendencies spill over into my spiritual life. Surely our efficient God desires the greatest amount of good for the least amount of energy.
And so, I used to make a religious checklist. Quiet time (check). Church meeting (check). Casserole to the sick (check).
One day, God revealed to me His very own checklist. Excitedly, I found someone had already asked Him the very question that I so wanted to know: “What must we do to do the works God requires?” (John 8:28).
In spirit, I pulled out my little white notebook and made the virtual boxes. Here was His to-do list. Here is how I could “help” Him work.
“Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.’” (John 8:29)
What??? That’s it? I can make a checklist better than that! Believe?
And then with gentle revelation our Father urged me toward Truth. There is only one true action that we can “do” for God. Faith Him.
This morning, He reminded me of this all over again as I read Song of Solomon 5:16: “His speech is most sweet, and He is altogether desirable.”
Do I believe that I will find His very own sweet Voice nestled within the Words the Scriptures? Do I faith that His Words to me are altogether desirable?
No matter what happens — no matter my circumstances — will I faithe His heart? Will I believe that He truly has only the best in store for my life, even when my experience screams otherwise? I pray that He will give me the strength for this to be so.
After all, faith is the only thing on my checklist today.
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