You’re not just another, comically juggling a to-do list.

Work. Workout. Cook. Eat — way too fast! Errands. Cleaning. Laundry. RSVP. Schedule. Check to-do list. No surprise: there’s still more to do.  

We’re responsible; we have to take care of things. Who else will? Changing hats throughout the day can leave you feeling like you’re in a circus with absurd costumes.

For me, to avoid turning into a stress-filled, scary clown, I’ve had to judge whether my daily choices are worthy of rotten tomatoes or applause. As I’ve taken a seat to give myself a review, I’ve realized: with what I’m juggling, there’s really only one ball for me to keep my eye on every day. 

This one thing filters my priorities and shifts how I treat everyone. It’s the ultimate time-sifter. If I fail, my day isn’t fulfilling, and peace is out of reach. 

My one job is to trust God with my thinking and behavior, which translates into trusting Him with my decisions. My one job is a mindset.

Impractical? What about the breeding pile of laundry sitting there? I just need to do it – not think about doing it, right?

I see another way to order my day: when I prioritize God’s kingdom in my small, daily decisions, life is still hard, but my day is better. I have less time for needless arguments or new stuff and more time to accomplish what’s truly necessary.

For instance, will I mention my (probably, unreasonably germophobic) annoyance to the best husband? Is that worth it and the right thing? Will I eat to feel better or nourish myself? How will I respond to the customer service representative, when the bank messed up my credit card and completely wasted my time? Do I buy those adorable shoes, or wait to consign the ones I’m no longer using? 

You may view the daily responsibilities of money, laundry, cleaning and food differently. This one job mind refiner will make you better at finances (I’m less controlled by wants, when my mind and heart recognize God is owner, and I’m a steward), decrease laundry and cleaning (since I buy less new stuff I want and take better care of what I have), and help you enjoy the blessing of food (when I exercise self-control in eating and savor its nutritional goodness and its taste).

Trusting God in thinking and behavior, and, therefore, decisions, isn’t an elusive theory. It’s only for the strong, because it requires real goodness, discipline, and forgiveness, for example, before you impulsively act. Being slow to speak and quick to listen: real and challenging. Exercising kindness, gentleness, love, self-control, and patience every day is extremely annoying and hard, but I think they are the practices leading to peace, freedom and joy.

Unless I trust God in decisions and actions, peace, freedom and joy are out of reach. Without peace, freedom and joy in my day, my days will be less fulfilling and pointless. 

If you’d like a takeaway verse, I keep landing on these:

• Matthew 11:30, “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
  • To me, this practically translates to: what are your daily burdens? Exchange them for what Jesus wants me to do and carry today.
• Matthew 6:33, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
  • God knows I need clothes, food and shelter. When I trust Him with thinking and behavior, He will take care of the rest. This doesn’t mean ignore my responsibilities – quite the opposite. It means choosing His values first, like considering others more important than myself and trying to (I certainly fail) take the best care of them.

At the end of the day, I measure success by whether I trusted God with my endeavors in thinking and acting. And, when I fail, I know I can ask Him for wisdom, strength, and grace. After all, prioritizing other things – like more stuff or trying to look perfect – makes me a tragic clown.