“To Be” List Before “To Do” List

If you’re anything like me, usually the first hour of my day involves getting the mental “to do” list out of my head and onto a physical checklist so I can track my progress.

I am a list maker by nature, and the morning brain dump routine helps me prioritize all the things.

But this morning, as I made my “to do” list, I couldn’t help but think of another checklist that really should be priority.

Instead of being controlled by our “to do” list, let’s allow the “to be” list to shape our day. Being breeds a better doing anyway, so if we live by this list, maybe we can more easily accomplish the “to do” list tasks.

☑️Humble

☑️Grateful

☑️Teachable

☑️Available

Today, my prayer for me and my people is that we’d “be” before we “do.”

I pray we’d be humble, putting others before ourselves. Considering their interests and needs before our own.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬, ESV‬‬)

I pray we’d be grateful. An attitude of gratitude always puts us in a better mood. Let’s count our blessings instead of spiraling down the road of negativity. Grateful hearts are happy hearts.

“A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.” (Proverbs‬ ‭15‬:‭13,‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

I pray we’d be teachable and learn life lessons from the only Way, Truth, and Life — our plumbline and lifeline — our ever present help in times of trouble. Learners become leaders, and leaders continue to be learners.

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.” (Psalm‬ ‭25‬:‭4‬, ESV‬‬)

I pray we’d be available. Flexibility creates margin in our day for availability. We never know what blessing lies around the bend of being available. We need others. They need us. Let’s not only stay teachable, let’s stay reachable as well.

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭9‬, ESV‬‬)

☑️Let’s “be” first so we can “do” best.