Every day when I wake up before too much time has passed I inevitably ask myself, "What do I have to do today?" That isn't the same as asking myself what do I want to do, and too often the "have to" list seems a mile long and the "want to" list is just out of reach. Now usually life isn't that bleak, but it brings up the point that our "have to" lists can just suck the air out of our lives. Now the question I need to ask myself, and each of us needs to ask, is which list is Jesus on? Is my time with him a "have to" or a "want to" ? Do I wake up on Sunday's and think, "Oh, I have to go to church today." or "Oh, I get to go to church today." Time in prayer, reading the Bible, sharing Jesus with others, which list is those items on?
Another big difference in the lists is how those activities make me feel. The "have to's" leave me drained and weary. They can take all the joy out of my day. Is that how Jesus makes you feel? If so there is something wrong in our relationship with him. Things on my "want-to" list often energize me, they put a lift in my step and joy in my day. I'm not saying we throw out all our hobbies and times of relaxing. But Jesus should be a big part of that list, and a part of everything we do.
Another big difference in the lists is how those activities make me feel. The "have to's" leave me drained and weary. They can take all the joy out of my day. Is that how Jesus makes you feel? If so there is something wrong in our relationship with him. Things on my "want-to" list often energize me, they put a lift in my step and joy in my day. I'm not saying we throw out all our hobbies and times of relaxing. But Jesus should be a big part of that list, and a part of everything we do.
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