If you’re a list maker, you know the strange mix of joy and frustration that comes with the habit. As our nightly prayer and devotional remind us, there’s a certain satisfaction in crossing things off — so much so that we sometimes write down tasks we already completed just to check them off. But on the days when the list goes untouched or grows longer instead of shorter, the disappointment can feel heavy.
Greg Grandchamp reminds us that in those moments, our minds often turn against us. The “why didn’t I…” thoughts take over. The “I should have…” regrets pile up. The unfinished list becomes a source of stress, discouragement, or even shame.
But God isn’t measuring our days by the length of our lists. He is far more concerned with the posture of our hearts than the productivity of our hours.
Isaiah 26:3 gives us an anchor:
God keeps us in perfect peace when our minds are steadfast — when our trust remains fixed on Him rather than on our performance.
TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
— Isaiah 26:3
MAIN TAKEAWAYS
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Your unfinished list does not define you; God’s sovereignty does.
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Peace isn’t the result of productivity — it’s the fruit of trust.
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God ordains your steps even when your plans fall apart.
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Prayer shifts your focus from frustration to rest.
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Your list may not be finished, but God’s faithfulness always is.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Father,
You know me better than I know myself. You see the anxiety I feel over all I didn’t complete today. Help me take joy in what was accomplished, even if it wasn’t what I planned. Remind me that what mattered today was what You intended, not what I listed. Give me peace in knowing that Your purposes stand firm, even when my schedule does not. Teach me to rest in Your will rather than striving for my own. At the end of each day, help me remember that Your list is the one that matters most.
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