I’m sure you’re familiar with the to-do list – I’ve been using one for years.  It’s a great way to stay focused and on task and I find a sense of satisfaction as I cross off an item on my to-do list.  But there are two other lists that can be helpful in managing your life.

As a leader you want to continue to learn and develop your leadership capacity.  As you add responsibilities to your life you will experience a time crunch, something must cut from your schedule. This brings me the second list – a not to do list.  What are those things in your life, even good things, you need to stop doing so you can do the best things?  This is one of the reasons why New Year’s resolutions may fail, people add but they don’t subtract from their life and it becomes burdensome after a few weeks.

But there is a third list that is the most important list and is foundational to the other two lists – it is the to be list. At times we concentrate so much on doing we lose sight of who we are. Doing is important but it needs to be based on our being. If our “doing” is not based on who we are then our “doing” often seems like a “have to” rather than a “want to.”  When our “doing” however is based on who we are then our behavior flows naturally from our identity – our “have to” becomes a “want to.”

Therefore our external behavior should be based upon our internal identity and this requires a rhythm of solitude and engagement. Jesus modeled this pattern of solitude and engagement in His ministry (see Mark 1:35). Our relationship with God is not based upon our behavior but our identity in Christ; this is why Jesus said,

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

If we do not abide in Jesus then we will not have the inner resources to manifest the fruit of the Spirit in the challenges we face in this world.

Jesus demonstrated this truth in the Sermon on the Mount, He commences His sermon with the beatitudes describing the character of the individual and then He talked about behavior. Realize that you can do the right thing but for the wrong reason. The Pharisees had this problem – they were great at “doing” but their hearts were far from God. All three lists are important – take some time this week and reflect on your to be list. Isaiah wrote,

“For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, ‘In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength’” (Isaiah 30:15a).

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Chu,rch at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

Follow me on twitter:  rickhiggins5