When God Interrupts Your To-Do List

What makes a good day? What does it take to give you that sense of satisfaction that you had a productive day? Is getting a lot done a prerequisite to having a good day? And what “good things” fill your day, as opposed to those mundane things?

Living By a List

A few months ago, I started my day with a list. I love lists! They keep my tasks prioritized and moving, and can re-focus me with just a look. This particular day, I arose early, spent time with my Bible and coffee, and tackled the list. That evening, I reviewed the list and was pleased to see all the high-priority items and most of the others marked off. It had been a productive day, and I went to bed feeling satisfied.

Fast forward two weeks. Another day, another list. But before I got started on the tasks, I felt urged to go visit an elderly lady in our church. No problem, I could fit that in. We had such a good visit, prayed together, rejoiced together. Enjoyed the sunshine and blue sky. When I left, I was astonished to see I had been there over two hours. My mind went to that list… and I knew I would need to do double time.

But on the drive home, my mind went to my neighbor. In spite of being recently widowed, Linda is a bright spot in our neighborhood. She spends time in the Word, prays Scripture over those in her heart—including my family and me—and is just the kind of compassionate and caring person I want in my life. It was easy to spend two or three hours with her.

When I saw our paint van roll around the corner, signaling that my husband was home, I rued that supper had not been started. After we ate and the dishes were cleaned up, I looked at my list and bemoaned to my husband that I hadn't gotten anything accomplished that day! To which he remarked, “Maybe you got the most important things done.”

What Really Matters

That got me thinking about what is important to me. In Ephesians 5, Paul admonishes us to redeem the time (make the most of every opportunity) and be wise to what the Lord wants (align with His plan for your day). I think we can only do that by being filled with the Spirit and walking in His path. Discernment is a small voice that too often gets drowned out by the clamor of all the expectations with which we live.

And expectations are not bad. The laundry has to be done. The kids have to be fed. The bathroom has to be cleaned. There’s a subtle tension that’s worth acknowledging: sometimes the Spirit leads us to be faithful in the mundane tasks on our list, and sometimes He redirects us to people. Both can be Spirit-led.

The key isn't "lists are bad, people are good," but rather "self-directed can be bad, but Spirit-led is always good." We should not descend to feelings of guilt when our day ends with only mundane accomplishments; we are called to do those well, also. And that may be exactly what that day was supposed to look like.

The ‘Gottas’ Got Us

But so many times, circumstances can press in until we feel like we ‘gotta’ do this and we ‘gotta’ do that. It isn’t necessarily worthless or “bad” things; it can be good activities. We gotta go help this person with their challenge; we gotta run and pick up some groceries for the shut-in; we gotta make sure the plans for the weekend are all in place; we gotta set up the pavilion for the party tonight; we gotta…gotta…gotta. And at the end of the day, we can look in the mirror and exhaustedly admit, the ‘gottas’ got us. Again.

Recently, I had another one of those days, but the outcome was different because my mindset started in a better place. The morning began with a meeting that turned into a four-hour work session. When I closed my computer, I still had a few things that needed to be done, but I had planned (it was on my list, you see) to go spend some time with my friend who is battling both a liver disease and the natural depression and discouragement that comes with serious illness.

I didn’t have any wisdom or advice to give; I just wanted to sit with her and let the conversation meander wherever she wanted. Though we didn’t literally sing any psalms, hymns, or spiritual songs, I think God did hear the melody that was created by the mutual thankfulness for our friendship and time spent together, the heartfelt encouragement we received, and the community we experienced, of which Paul also speaks.

As I reflect on these three random days in my recent past, I am compelled to ask myself two questions: What ‘gotta’ might God be asking me to release today so I can embrace His ‘get to?’ Where might the Spirit be redirecting me from my list to His priorities?

A Prayer:

“Lord, when I look in the mirror tonight, may I smile with satisfaction at having heard and followed your voice today. And may I understand that your redirection of my plans is all part of redeeming the time and making the most of my days.”