I was scrolling through Pinterest the other night during one of my restless evenings and found a picture of someone’s journaling page labeled “I’m Done…” with what looked like several bullet points listed underneath.
I scrolled past it, not 100% interested only because I was more interested in trying to get my heavy eyes and restless body to actually fall asleep before 3:45 am.
I keep scrolling and ironically I scroll past the same list…again.
Okay, at that point, how do you ignore it?
So, I opened the picture this time, making it larger so I could read what was written with each bullet point.
I began to see phrases like “comparing myself”, “fearing failure”, “having unrealistic expectations of myself” and I have to say my heart immediately connected with each statement I read.
Then, the purpose of this list hit me. It was sort of like a list determining what this person was done letting have such a hold on their life. Then, this purpose hit me even harder.
How often do we let little bullet point statements control the outcome of our everyday lives?
I can’t speak for you, but as for myself I do this quite often. And, if I’m honest, I would have quite the list of things that I allow to do so.
Right now, my list isn’t an “I’m done” list, though.
It is currently an active list of things that run through my mind and hold onto me and my life with such a strong grip.
Little statements y’all.
Who knew we could form such ideas in our heads and let them overflow into the rest of who we are?
It even goes beyond the ideas we put in our heads.
It’s people.
Jobs.
Schedules.
Expectations.
We let these unhealthy things in our lives control us, when really the only thing that should have such a hold on us is Jesus.
He doesn’t have a list.
He doesn’t hold us to ridiculous standards, but only with truth.
He holds us with His word and His grace.
He holds us with the daily reminder of His love.
You see, when we hold these lists of statements in our heads, we are weighed down, but all Jesus does is pull us up.
I have realized that lately I have been very weighed down by my own list. To the point where I am actually trying to remove God’s grip on me because of how my list makes me feel.
Again, this isn’t the “I’m done” list. It’s the list of things that I feel about myself or expect from myself.
And when I don’t complete things on this list, or when I give into things on this list, I feel like I have failed and that I don’t even deserve God’s love gripped onto me.
My list has pulled me away.
So I read this “I’m done” list several times, shifting my focus from relating to the list, to feeling empowered by it.
I allowed my hear to recognize that it was time to transform my own list and start declaring an end to the statements filled in my head.
It was time to create my own “I’m done” list, but with a twist.
Sort of turning my list into a prayer and declaration to God.
Sharing with Him the areas I am choosing to shift and change in my life to make more room for Him.
& these are the bullet points I came up with..
Dear Jesus, Today I declare that I am done…
Living with unrealistic expectations of myself. It’s time I give myself some grace. Each day may come with a to-do list, but I am not a failure if it isn’t completed the way I expected. I am allowed to fail because from that “failure” there is something to learn. There is no need for expectations when I serve a God who only expects me to be fully me and fully present in Him.
Comparing myself to others. This is a deep struggle of mine Lord, but through you I am reminded that I was fearfully and wonderfully made in YOUR eyes. I am my own individual, therefore my dreams and my life are not the same as the women surrounding me. You have a unique purpose for my life and I will miss out on this purpose if I continue to compare and try to change my own life into being like someone else’s.
Letting the enemy control my thoughts. My mind is my biggest battlefield and the enemy is very present here. Remind my mind that YOU have victory over the enemy’s false thoughts he puts into my head. Yesterday he was in control here, but today I declare that YOU are!
Feeling worthless. Lord, you call me WORTHY and MADE for GOOD things! Again, You have given me purpose, which makes me the opposite of worthless. You define me and my worth!
Wishing life’s seasons away. It is time to live presently in the moment you have placed me in, God! Shift my attitude. Shift my heart. Help change me so that I can be who I need to be here & change me so I can handle the things that you are walking me through. This is my now, the place you have called me to. Allow all of me to be present here.
Thinking I am not capable. Like Gideon, you call the ones who feel like they are not qualified, but you claim they are! You have qualified me to live the life I am living and accomplish the things You have placed in my path. Big or small - I am capable because of You.
Living in worry/doubt. You are truth! You are confirmation! You are my constant. Though my heart worries about tomorrow, you tell me to see only today because… You hold tomorrow. Life is too short to be worried about what is yet to come. Life is too short to doubt what is around You. It is time that my heart lives fully trusting you and fully aware of the goodness you bring.
Letting fear take over. God, you know how often my soul gives into fear. You know how often I reject things or walk away from things because of my fearful heart, but today I am declaring that I will step out only in faith, no longer in fear. You have called us to walk by faith and not by sight and God sight brings me fear. So, remind my heart not to see, but to just KNOW that you are walking presently before me so that I can walk only in faith, not fear.
Holding onto the past. The past has no affect on what you are doing in my future. We all have a story, a testimony to share. We all have a place we came from to get to the place we are at no. This does not need to have a grip on my life or control how I see my future. I am forgiven. I am loved. and I am on a path towards success for You!
Making excuses. Lord, I have failed You lately, making excuses for me not to be fully present in You. These excuses end today. It is time I live completely focused on You and Your word! It is time I only fill up with the things you have set before me. You are consistent in my life, therefore You need to be a consistent part of my daily routine.
Now… I am challenging you to do the same. Create your own “I’m done” prayer list. Declare God’s wisdom over the things that were having such a negative hold on your life.
Write it out.
Hang it on your bathroom mirror or somewhere where you either get ready or see a lot of.
Then, declare it.
Every time you see it, pray it… out loud!
Declare that you are done living by the list that controlled you before.
Declare that you are ready to start living under God’s grip and God’s grace.
Because guess what, those old statements do not own you. You are not defined by what is controlling you. You are fully loved and designed to thrive by God. He has a plan for you that goes beyond the bullet points.
He is where you find your definition.
He is what determines the difference between living a life of hiding behind bullet points from living out your “i’m done” list!
Let’s live free from those expectations and start living fully done!
xoxo
MKG
PS... Share your list with me... HERE! I would love to hear some of your "I'm done" prayers!
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