Submitted
by Lara Cook
For godly grief
produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly
grief produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10
I have never been very good at
making lists until recently when from the car to the door of the grocery store
I literally forget what I am supposed to be buying. If I don’t write it down, chances are I won’t
walk out the door with it. Lists are a
great tool and many productive and successful people swear by them. Lists can help us keep track of what we need
to do and check it off when we have accomplished these tasks. Lists can help us put things into perspective
when we are overwhelmed. Recently I was
reading a book and the author suggested a “Stop Doing List”, a genius idea that
I need to embrace as much as a “To Do List”.
Not to Do –
I do have a list constantly going
in my head of all the things I need to do to better myself. Paul Sohn, author of Quarter Life Calling, says “We should practice the art of creating a stop-doing list. A stop-doing list encourages you to identify
habits, behaviors, and thoughts that kill your dreams. Create a list of ten things you should stop
doing.” My list would have a lot more than ten things on
it but I think the idea is to start with an obtainable goal in mind. When I read this, I immediately thought of
the relativity to our relationship with God.
We all have sins in our lives that we struggle with and continually beat
ourselves up over, which is exactly what Satan wants. He wants us to believe we are damaged goods
and would never be worthy of God’s grace.
He also wants us to feel like a failure over and over again, defeated
and beat down. But that is not how our
God is. He has mercy and grace for all
our failures and He loves us relentlessly.
I plan on making my Stop Doing
list and placing it somewhere I can be reminded daily. There is power and accountability in putting
words on paper and even more power in speaking them. If you have a friend you feel comfortable
with, share your Stop Doing list with them and ask to be held accountable. I will fail, but I will never give up trying. It is a process and as long as I am human, I
will never fully arrive but I know Someone who will carry me the rest of the
way.
Scripture to Claim:
The Lord is not slow
to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not
wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
