“What would you put on your “faith bucket list”?
The first devotion I read today (60 Days of Prayer, Guideposts, 3-8-2026) asked readers to consider that idea. And of course, my list-making mind picked up on it.
I thought back to when our young adult daughters asked me, “What’s on your bucket list?” I wondered why I would need a list of buckets and began considering what I’d include. Sand bucket? (Nah, I don’t like sand.) Feed bucket? (Nope, never got that horse I wished for every time I blew out a birthday candle, even last year on my 65th!) Water bucket? (Well, we keep water in plastic jugs, the kind bugs can’t get in.) Short list.
“No! Not actual buckets,” said one daughter.
“What do you want to do before you kick the bucket?” asked another.
“Fun stuff, you know!” added the third, still a teen at the time.
A Non-existent Bucket List
So, I gave it some thought. What do I want to do before I die? Is there anything I really want to do, to become, to learn how to do?
“Nothing.” Short answer.
“What do you mean ‘nothing’?!” all three spoke together, aghast at my answer.
That’s when their own ideas spurted out:
- Ride a camel
- Swim with dolphins
- Visit Ireland
- Go into space
- , etc., etc. – places to see, wild adventures to have, new things to learn
Well, I don’t want to travel. I’m not adventurous. I learn new things every day.
“Nope. Nada.”
They weren’t happy with my answer.
But over the years, one or two items made their way onto the list:
- I’d like to go owling.
Well, okay, one thing. What can I say?
The First Attempt at a Faith Bucket List
Thinking back on that very short bucket list, I thought maybe a faith bucket list would interest me more. After all, I’m a self-proclaimed woman-after-God’s-own-heart, like David in 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22. I decided some journaling on the topic would help bring it together.
However, as I wrote in my notebook, my ideas took a turn.
- See our grandchildren all come to salvation in Jesus.
- Pray for our grandchildren to all find Christian spouses one day.
- Have my youngest brother come to salvation.
- See all my family walking with Jesus every day.
- Co-write Bible studies with our youngest daughter.
All these faith bucket list items depended on other people making choices I couldn’t make for them. This didn’t seem likely. When we place our hopes in humankind, we often end up disappointed, disillusioned, and discouraged.
As a mom of adult children, I spend more hours praying for their choices than I’d thought I would have to. Indeed, much of my happiness often depends on how they are living and handling their lives and those of our grandchildren. Not good for a bucket list.
A New Approach
After closing my journal for the day, I put the idea aside for a few days. As I did, other thoughts came to mind. One involved spiritual gifts. Who doesn’t want to use their spiritual gifts in their faith life? And that goes along with a faith bucket list.
As a young mom, I’d first come across spiritual gifts in a new church we’d joined. I took one of the tests and was not all that surprised by what I found: I have a servant’s heart. But
I also enjoy teaching, so maybe that was also one of my gifts.
At this time, I wanted to work in the nursery, teach Sunday School, and lead a women’s Bible study. In our former church I’d done those things, minus the Bible study. This time, though, God used my service in a different way, that of hospitality within our church body and 
at a local Youth for Christ. I served through kitchen and sewing duties.
But that was thirty years ago. My spiritual gifts have changed since then. Now, I’m primarily a mercy, seeing needs and meeting them, sometimes to my body’s or schedule’s detriment. And I’m a teacher, lending itself to creating lessons and being a “Titus 2 Woman.”
Still, maybe something through my spiritual gifts could go one a bucket list.
Trying Again
Perhaps, my faith bucket list could include some of these. I figured it was worth a shot.
- Create a series of women’s Bible studies and lead them.
Hmm … guess there’s not much there to fill that particular bucket. Maybe this idea sounded better in the devotion. Putting it into practice didn’t seem to work. Perhaps rereading the devotion and my journal thoughts might help!
Third Time’s a Charm?
The devotion writer’s suggestions included mentoring, Bible reading, following a calling. I already mentor several young people through writing, and I faithfully read my Bible, though like everyone, I could do that more. But as a faith bucket list item?
As for the calling, God called me to write to the world’s weary people. I try to do that. Again, not bucket list worthy.
One note in my journal pointed out that bucket list items often happen once, such as our daughter wanting to ride a camel or my desire to go owling. Once and done. Sure, some may turn into long-term activities or become a new hobby.
However, I didn’t think that was the point. To me, bucket list items aren’t necessarily making life-changes, but each one on its own IS life-changing. With that in mind, I wanted to try again.
Hold That Thought!
I stared at the blank document, the cursor blinking by the bullet point dot. And it hit me: What about my faith has been “life-changing”? What about my faith today could change my life in one event?
I needed to see what God says faith “is.” Through a concordance search, I found, “Faith is …”
- … an assurance of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)
- … what can move a mountain from here to there making nothing impossible for a believer in Jesus. (Matthew 17:20)
- … how the righteous live. (Romans 1:17)
- … the salvation of our souls. (1 Peter 1:9)
- … the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8)
And turning those into a bucket list? Why not!
- Something I can’t “see” – Trust God to help me finish several projects I started.
- Something seemingly impossible – Believe in God’s healing of my arthritis-laden body.
Well, these didn’t do a thing for my faith bucket list ideal.
Could It Really Be This Easy?
Before I gave up, I decided to keep the Scriptures in mind, but draw extra inspiration from the anonymous quotes of others.
- “Faith is having the courage to let God have control.”
- “Faith is holding onto what you believe is going to happen until it happens.”
- “Faith is never giving up this side of heaven.”
If I created that faith bucket list, it would resemble my first attempt at a regular bucket list – something “I really want to do … to learn how to do … before I die.”
And it would hold one item … something our youngest daughter, whose name happens to be Faith, used to say often: “You gotta have faith!”
So, here is my “Faith Bucket List”:
- HAVE FAITH!
What’s on your “Faith Bucket List”? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
