A Life Beyond the Checklist

A Life Beyond the Checklist

The Blaze Planner is NOT a checklist for being a better-than-you Christian. It is NOT a checklist for being a detail-oriented wife. It is NOT a checklist for being a hyper-efficient mother.

1 Thess. 4:1 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.

Wikipedia states “A checklist of the type of job aid used to reduce failure by compensating for potential limits of human memory and attention. It helps to ensure consistency and completeness in carrying out a task.  A basic example is the “to-do list”. A more advanced checklist would be a “schedule”; which lays out tasks to be done according to time of day or other factors.”  

Wikipedia dives deeper and says, “Excessive dependence on checklists may hinder performance when dealing with a time critical situation, for example a medical emergency or an in-flight emergency.” It is summed up by saying “Checklist should not be used as a replacement for common sense.” 

So, what then should I “depend on excessively”? God, His will, His way and His Word. God himself wants to be the Master of your day.  

John 14:1 Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

Romans 6:13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

No one likes to track – schedule - monitor every move they make in a day.  Who has time for that!   

Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

But, just as the trending business gurus state: You can’t EXPECT what you don’t INSPECT.  Meaning, we may have all these ideas about changes we need to make to live a healthier lifestyle, or how to stay organized, or steps needed to build stronger friendships, or even reminders to share the Gospel more often.     

1 John 4:16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Use the Trackers and Lists Sections of your planner to help you set up a system of accountability that works for you and honors God.