Checking Off the Right Stuff

Hi. My name is Melissa and I’m a list person. (Hello, Melissa.)
I love lists. I believe in lists. If I do something and it wasn’t on my list, I write it on my list so I can have the satisfaction of marking it off my list. When I complete a task, a simple check mark fails to capture the profound awesomeness of my productivity and efficiency. I eradicate it from existence with the repetitive stroke of my pen or, even better, a single stroke of an extra wide sharpie that has the final word even as it vanquishes all others. I hear cheers from imaginary friends as I stand under a glittery rain shower of confetti. Ate breakfast? Done. Brushed my teeth? Completed. Closed my garage? It. Is. Finished, y’all.
Success looks a lot like productivity to me. If I don’t look closely, I get duped into thinking I matter because of what I do, that I am worthy because of what I accomplish. I imagine success comes in disguise to you, too, sometimes, and, like a skilled knock-off designer, it can be difficult to tell the difference. Not until you wear it a few times and it begins to unravel do you realize you bought the cheaper imitation instead of the real deal.
Success is not found in what we do but rather in trusting Whose we are and what has been done for us. This is the real deal.
I still enjoy lists. But maybe I should start each day with these instead: Beloved by God? Check. Saved by grace? Done. Free from shame? It. Is. Finished, y’all.
Say the welcoming word to God—“Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: “God has set everything right between him and me!” Romans 10:9-10, The Message
*This was my devotion from our church’s daily devotions which are produced and distributed daily via email throughout the year. You can sign up to receive those devotions written by various church members here.