Are You A List Maker?

Grocery list, Christmas list, to-do list, naughty list...Life can be full of lists. They can be helpful or daunting. Some of my lists are necessary because of my memory, others are to help my sanity and still others are for my self esteem!

Feed, grocery and to-do lists don't fluctuate too much in my world. They keep my sanity and can be added to or marked off as needed each month. Some lists I make so that I can check things off and feel accomplished, that's good for my self esteem. Daily lists help my memory and the only bucket list I have is: two red and three black, plus one little metal one I use to feed the sheep. (Needless to say I have no bucket list, I'm ready to go ASAP!)

Seriously though, there is one list I keep that is very important-My prayer list.

What does it mean to have a prayer list?

I know my grandmother's had prayer lists and prayer chains. They had a circle of friends that would call each other and pray for things together. I'm sure I was on that list more than once.

These days we have social media and there are many times I've seen folks use it to ask for prayer: specific, blanket, unspoken. People respond by clicking "like" or the heart button, others even make a quick comment with praying hand emojis. I'm guilty of all that, but today as I was having my quiet time I recognized that my prayer list was very important. So important that I really need to pay more attention to it. More than a "like" or an emoji.

My grocery list is full of things I buy every month; but I still keep them on a list because I'll forget them if I don't and not much makes me more angry than forgetting toilet paper on my once-a-month trip to the grocery store. However, inevitably I usually forget at least one item or I don't pay attention to my list until I'm on the other end of the store...

A "To-Do" list is helpful as it reminds me of what I need to get done while not taking up space in my head. Once I've completed a task it feels good to mark it off and move on to the next one. As much as I hate to, there are times that I have to leave things on that list for the next day.

Prayer lists are serious lists. Sometimes prayers are on that list for a long time. Often things on that list are skipped over and other times they pop out as if they've been highlighted. Occasionally things on a prayer list are marked off because they are answered differently than we had hoped and are no longer necessary. Those things should remind us that we are not in control and God has different plans than we do.

Paul spoke much about prayer. The importance of it and how to do it. In Colossians 4: 2 he says, "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving". 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Paul says "Pray without ceasing" and in verse 18 he adds, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Black and white. Clear as day. Easy as pie-Don't stop praying and be thankful. It's His will and our privilege.The Bible does NOT say, "Whatever you ask for in prayer will be answered in the order it was received." Nor does it say, "The more you pray for what you want the more likely you are to get it."

I love lists. I love my prayer list. Today I'm focusing on where specific prayer from me is called for. Those on my prayer list aren't lifted lightly and marked off, they are lifted specifically and handed over. Then, if He brings them to my heart, mind or even my eyes later, they're prayed for over and over and opened up again and turned over to see how they need to be prayed for differently. Even after prayers have been answered, I can remember them and send up praises and thanksgivings because those are good to do over and over again too. Who doesn't like to be reminded of a job well done or a gesture, a kindness or even an intervention?

God answers prayers. He hears them all when asked in His name by His children. Sometimes it's hard to ask for His will to be done, but I have realized that is the only way they can be answered correctly. And when I ask for my prayers to bring Him glory and honor, I know they will be handled by the best Orchestrator of all, in the very best way possible.