HEAVENSREEF

Are you a list maker?  Some people write lists every day.  You probably have a list right now on the counter for Thanksgiving dinner!  I make one to help me remember, others love making a list to slowly check off items and that in and of itself gives them a feeling of accomplishment.  I also, make those mental lists like posting on this blog today………check.

Have you thought recently about GOD’S list for you?  I wondered what HIS list for HIS followers would look like after a friend at Church said to me that she had worries about her daughter, but had taken her off of her list and confidently moved her onto GOD’S list. 

My friend felt relief in this……..she was letting go and giving it up to the LORD.  We all have our own list of plans and goals, but GOD has HIS own list for us too.

Our lists tend to deal with the external and what is in front of us, while GOD’S list deals with our internal state of heart and mind. HIS list is specific to our soul maturity………a maturity we all will need to stand one day before our HOLY GOD.

GOD WANTS US TO BECOME MORE LIKE HIS SON, JESUS.

If you think about it, our desires are not always GOD desired!  We are sinners and broken people.  In order to stand before a HOLY GOD, we need JESUS! 

ROMANS 13: 14 “INSTEAD, CLOTHE YOURSELVES WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH.”

Every day abiding with the LORD should shorten our list…….our wants…….our needs.  Because HE cares for us, our wants should become HIS wants and our heart should become more like HIS.

IN GOD’S HOLY PLAN, IT’S NOT ABOUT US AT ALL……..IT’S ABOUT GLORIFYING HIM!

We should look then at our lists, and feel a need to just throw them away yes?  Because GOD is in control we don’t know what tomorrow may bring, but what we can be certain of is this:

GOD WANTS US TO HAVE A HEART JUST LIKE HIS.

As JESUS was dying on the Cross, HIS heart was broken and HE had compassion for the two sinners on either side of HIM.  Let us show that same compassion to the broken souls around us, because loving in grace is how JESUS lived HIS life, and we should too.

Lately I see that GOD has been removing those ugly things off of my list…….pride, self-condemnation, putting myself before others and impatience with difficult people.  I am so thankful I am on GOD’S list!  Do you see GOD working on your list too?  If so, make notes as to where HE is working and removing.  I pray you will grow in HIS grace alone.

As our list grows smaller, GOD’S list for us grows larger…….because in HIM and through HIM we can accomplish much.

WE CAN DO ALL THINGS IN CHRIST JESUS!

I think GOD wants us to desire HIS list over ours because of what it will do within us.

1 CORINTHIANS 12: 31 “BUT DESIRE THE GREATER GIFTS.  AND I WILL SHOW YOU AN EVEN BETTER WAY.”

HIS way truly is the better way.  It is that simple.  And those greater gifts are all good and right and lovely.  The Spirit is working into us daily these qualities:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  (Galatians 5:22)

As we check those things off of our lists, handing them over to GOD, HIS love for us remains constant and HIS wants for us are all about redeeming us to make us more like HIS son, JESUS.

Let us take comfort in knowing that we are on GOD’S list, and that HE is maturing us until the day we stand before HIM alongside JESUS.  And the cool thing about that?  HE will tear up any list there was because we will have arrived, faithful and complete.  There will be no more list making, only adoring and worshiping a HOLY GOD for all of eternity.  What a wonderful thought to finally be in HIS amazing presence!

REVELATION 5: 12 “WORTHY IS THE LAMB WHO WAS SLAIN, TO RECEIVE POWER AND WEALTH AND WISDOM AND MIGHT AND HONOR AND GLORY AND BLESSING!”