I love a list. When I have an enormous amount of work to get done I make myself a list. I do this every week and everyday. I make a weekly overall list that consist of tasks that I need to accomplish before the end of the week. To compliment that list I make a daily list of the tasks that I need to get done that day. Now, I am not so naive nor oblivious to the fact that random new tasks will pop up. I welcome those things too. But, for the most part I have my week and day planned out. Just to help me stay organized I have a reminder that pops up on all my devises that reminds me to take 15 minutes that morning for “time management”.

Another list that I have started to keep is what I call a “control” list. In reality its actually two lists. One list numbers out all the things that I can control in my life right now in the moment. I pray about those things and work on them everyday. The the other list is a temporary list of things in my life that are giving me stress that I cannot control. This list gets written out on an actual piece of paper with an actual pen. I read it over one time, pray about those things then rip I it up in the smallest pieces I can and throw it away. It’s a very therapeutic ritual I have been going through everyday now for the past few weeks. It’s very important to do it in this in order: 

  1. Write out on paper stresses that I cannot control
  2. Pray about those things and give it to God to control
  3. Rip the paper in small pieces and throw it away 

I want everyone that is reading this to give this a try. There are things you can control write them out and pray about them. Then there are things that are out of your control that you stress about. Write those things out, pray and then rip and throw. Give this a try and let me know how it makes you feel.

This therapy is not a new concept. Jesus spoke about worry and anxiety in Matthew 6:34 – Do so not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus doesn’t want you to worry. Let Him handle it. Give it up and let Him control all your lists!

~ Alexander