Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
—Philippians 4:6 NLT

“Don’t look. It’s a trap. Don’t pause. Don’t even read the description. Just keep going …” I tell myself as I scroll past yet another advertisement for a planner that promises me the life I’ve always dreamed of.

The Algorithm has found me out: I dream of being an organized person.

And guess what? A lot of companies out there just so happen to have the “perfect” product to deliver just what I long for in 2-5 business days. Lucky me!

If only it were that easy. We are at the end of a busy school year and heading into summer with active kids. I want to give my kids the dreamy summer I think they deserve, and I’ve been making to-do lists longer than CVS receipts. Your life may look quite different from mine, but perhaps you are also facing a super-sized to-do list.

The long lists tend to give me a good deal of agita. Even with the help of a “daily delete” or delegating, what’s left still feels insurmountable. There is just too much to be done … or, maybe more accurately, too much I’m concerned about getting done.

If I do a little soul-searching and am honest with myself, I find that I make the lists because I’m worried. I’m worried about forgetting. I’m worried about what will happen if these things are left undone. What will people think? We can’t fall behind on schoolwork! I can’t let the house fall apart! While some of these are legitimate concerns (I can’t just ignore my responsibilities), I need to remember what I’m supposed to do whenever I start to feel anxious:

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. —Philippians 4:6 NLT

So, those long to-do lists? When handled with care, they’re actually prayer lists. And that anxiety? It can be replaced with peace—

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:7 NLT

I don’t mean to super-spiritualize this, but I think it’s important to get to the heart of the matter. Adding things to a “prayer list” instead of a “to-do” list could be the mental shift we need so we remember how things actually get done around here (hint: it’s not us). It takes the pressure off our shoulders and allows us to humbly acknowledge the Lord’s involvement in the daily grind of life.

Now, please don’t misunderstand—I’m not saying it’s bad to have a planner or a “to-do” list. They’re helpful tools! But adding something to a prayer list really sends a different message to the heart and mind. Suddenly, the list doesn’t seem as heavy. It doesn’t seem to matter how long it is. It seems easier to prioritize, too. Suddenly, I’m reminded it’s not really all up to me.

Operating from that viewpoint is even better than having the perfect planner … and it can be yours faster than anything Amazon delivers!

Dear Lord, here it is, our messy list of things we feel responsible for. Help us to rest in the assurance of Your love. Give us wisdom as we prioritize and let go. Give us strength for what we must do, and peace for the things that we carry but are not ours to do today. Amen.

In Christ’s love,
Jayna

Sweet Selah Ministries

Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing Him
matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)

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