The Lists You Need To Forget

Do you rely on lists to remember what you need to get or do? Do you need a list to keep track of your lists? Many of us would be lost without our lists, but I propose that even more people are crippled because of them.

I was a prisoner of my own lists for decades, but I’m here to tell you how Jesus set me free.

And if you let Him, He’ll do the same for you.

My List of Lists

Here is a sample of the list of lists that I carried around for decades.

[ctt template=”2″ link=”9fb5H” via=”no” ]Victoria was a prisoner of the lists she kept for decades, maybe you can relate…[/ctt]

Here’s another set of lists. Given the lists above, I’ll tell you exactly what I received and accomplished.

My mind was a tornado and my heart was a black hole. But I eventually figured out Who could calm the storm and light my way.

God’s Take On Lists

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NLT (emphasis mine)

God is love. So that means…

God is patient and kind. God is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. God does not demand His own way. God is not irritable, and He keeps no record of being wronged.

Mankind is made in God’s image and we have the mind of Christ. So that means… (Watch this… I love this trick…!)

Victoria is patient and kind. Victoria is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Victoria does not demand her own way. Victoria is not irritable, and she keeps no record of being wronged.

Jesus taught us that the Law of the New Covenant is the Law of Love. The most important commandment is to love God, love others, and love ourselves. We are also given a very clear picture of what love looks like throughout the Bible. Love doesn’t keep lists of wrongs, therefore, by doing so, we are breaking God’s single most important law of the entire Bible.

Keeping lists as I did is a sin. It doesn’t matter how justified it may be; there are no asterisks in the Bible leading to notable exceptions to the Law of the New Covenant.

But How….?

“But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

God loves us so much, that He sent His only Son to pry these lists from us. We just need to release them and quit taking them back.

I’d heard this all of my life and thought it was a lovely, theological sentiment. I understood the concept that I had to let it all go, but I had no idea how. Furthermore, I most certainly didn’t feel it in my heart because I knew I had just cause for the way I felt.

I also knew I was not the woman God wanted me to be. When all my own bright ideas failed, I finally cried to God in prayer. He helped me find ways to leave my lists at the cross where they belonged.

“My offenses will be sealed up in a bag; you will cover my sin.” Job 14:17 NIV

Really? You can just seal it up in a bag? Yes, you can. If you don’t feel it your heart, pray for God’s help to change your heart. He already knows your heart anyway; it’s not like you can fake it with Him. Be assured that God is always faithful to those who pray according to His will.

6 Concrete Ways To Leave It All At The Cross

I have literally written down these lists in historically accurate detail, and sought various ways to let it go in a concrete way.  Here are some suggestions of things I’ve done, and other ideas to inspire you.

1.) Write list in a prayer journal as a diary entry to God. Tell Him that you release, forgive, forget, and give it all to Him, never to take it back.

2.) Burn the list.

3.) Run it through the shredder.

4.) Bury it.

5.) Draw a big cross on a piece of paper, and write your list on the cross. Get a big, thick black Sharpie and write something like “FORGIVEN”, “FORGOTTEN”, or “LIES” across the entire page.

6.) Throw the list in the toilet. You can even drop it in the water just before you sit down if it brings you satisfaction! Just don’t forget to flush with words of prayer and thanksgiving!

Closing List Of Lists…

When your ceremony is concluded, it’s time to make new lists to begin living with a renewed heart. I can only live in this renewal through prayer and scripture. Some of the topics I focus on include: Who God is, who He says I am, forgiveness, my thoughts, and my words. I’d like to share just two more lists of lists before I close.

Here is a sample of the list of lists that Jesus suffered and died to give us.

Given the lists above, I’ll tell you exactly what I received and accomplished.

Are you holding onto lists that you need to forget? What do you think you might do with your list?

[ctt template=”2″ link=”enFh9″ via=”no” ]6 Concrete Ways To Leave It All At The Cross[/ctt]

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