I love watching the squirrels scurry about their business.

One morning I intently watched two different squirrels purposefully move about. It appeared that they didn’t care about anything else going on around them, they were focused on the task at hand.

I began to think. When God created squirrels, He created them with an innate ability to do certain things. They wake up knowing their purpose for the day.

Hmmmm. That made me ponder. I often think I know what my purpose of the day is. But that usually entails some type of mental or written detailed schedule or list of things to do.

As I continued observing the two squirrels moving about, running across the fence, jumping from the roof on the garage to the tree, one question came to mind. “God, what do you want me to do today?”

As I sat with the question, “God what do you want me to do today?” Conviction rose in me. Yes, I pray every morning prior to me starting my day, I even ask God to order my steps for the day. But how intentional have I been in asking that one question, waiting for the answer then executing the answer, without having perused my to do list?

Sometimes we get so caught up on moving in what we think we should be doing for the day, you know, those mornings when, with the first parting of your eyelids, demands slap you in the face. The days where you know, from your very first waking minute, you could never possibly get everything done that you need to get done on that day. “Those days.”

But when we start days like that with this one question, “God, what do You want me to do today?”, we can change the way we approach them. Instead of complaining, feeling frustrated, tired and overwhelmed, we can walk each day one step at a time, expressing gratitude, investing in the assignment right in front of us and trusting that God will take care of the rest.

When we ask, “God, what do you want me to do today?”, it takes the focus and pressure off of self. God will rearrange priorities and time, redirecting us to determine what’s really important and refocus us on what really matters for that day.

To some it may look like the squirrels are running frantically from one thing to the next, but really, they are focused and determined to complete only what matters for that day.

We can take a lesson from the squirrels. We don’t have to run frantically form one thing to the next, complaining, feeling defeated and overwhelmed. Yes, things in life must get done. But, when we ask, “God, what do You want me to do today?”, any overwhelming feeling will be defeated and gratefulness will engulf you.

In the midst of life, and on those days filled with demands, I found one question to be a blessing. “God, what do You want me to do today?”

Prayer: Father God in the Name of Jesus, what do You want me to do today? Give me wisdom to release the things that I need to give to You. Reveal any complaining and feeling of defeat in me and help me trust You to do what I cannot do. Help me run with endurance and gratefulness to accomplish Your purposes for this day. Amen.

PEARLStoPONDER: Take a short inventory of the things you spend your life in turmoil over. Is there anything on that list you would call futile or vain? Bring your list to God in prayer and ask Him to rearrange it to match His direction.

Proverbs 3:5-6-- Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Psalm 143:10-- Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

Romans 8:28-- And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,^[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.

1 Corinthians 15:58--  Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Philippians 2:14-15-- Do all things without grumbling or disputing, ¹⁵ that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

1 John 5:14--  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.