Honestly, I forgot the new year started. I forgot people made resolutions and bought new workout clothes to inspire themselves. The new year entails so many lists and goals for some people. I’ve never been a list maker, I don’t want to let myself down when I quit a week in. Thankfully, God doesn’t want me to create bucket lists. The deepest desire of the bucket list is to ditch the idea of khaki pants and IKEA furniture, otherwise known as “normalcy.” We want more and more from this world, we create anxiety trying to live the greatest life. Turns out, life in Christ is already great. It’s actually amazing. There is nothing we can do to make life with God better. After traveling for 9 months to share the gospel, God will still be on his throne above earth, my salvation in his hands. If you plant 10 more churches, that’s amazing, but God will still be your savior. You can volunteer all you want, but it doesn’t change who God is to humanity. When did it become about what we can do for God, instead of what he did for us?
Our selfish nature keeps us from holding down jobs because “it’s not my dream job.” We keep our options open, who knows when the best opportunity might become available to us. Would you still do it if you couldn’t post about it? Let’s change the mindset. Let’s flip burgers to the best of our ability because he is Lord of all, let’s give him glory always, even if it’s not as glamorous as #37 on 2018’s bucket list. Let’s refocus on our creator, who is beyond excited to spend eternity with us.
How can we show people what it looks like to have peace in Christ when we are always frantic for the next best thing? We say we trust in his plan, and we say we trust in his goodness, but then we go and try and make our lives the most magical experience for our viewers and followers. Nothing is enough. There’s always something better stirring in our hearts. We cannot put the weight of our souls in anything other than Jesus Christ, because this world has nothing for us. The less you need from the world, the more you can give, the less pain it causes you, and the more you can enjoy life! In the Bible it says we will be compensated in heaven for our agony on earth. He does not forget about our deepest desires, he knows what we want. When we draw close to him, he aligns our will with his. My bucket list this year is whatever the Lord’s is. I’m on a need to know basis, he’ll let me in on his glory when it’s time.
*Bucket lists are not bad, but when we forget about our purpose in living and put our happiness in things, we lose God. Keep making goals! Make lists! Just put God in the center, because ultimately he has the power to flip that list upside down. This blog was inspired by a Passion 2018 message given by Levi Lusko. Please listen to it (YouTube), you won’t regret it.
