There’s an interesting concept used by professionals who study counterfeit money: they don’t spend their time studying every type of counterfeit; instead, they immerse themselves in studying the real thing. By doing this, they become so familiar with the authenticity, that when a counterfeit comes along, no matter how convincing, they can easily recognize it as fake.

We should approach our lives and tasks in the same way.

If we are so immersed in God’s Word—studying it daily, reflecting on it, and allowing it to shape our lives—when an opportunity, task, or relationship that doesn’t align with God’s principles comes along, we will be able to recognize it immediately. Just as a counterfeit looks foreign to someone who knows the real thing, tasks or situations that don’t align with God’s Word will stand out to us.

To do this, we must prioritize time to study the Bible and develop a deeper understanding of who God is. The more we know God’s heart, the clearer our path will become. By consistently filling our minds with truth, we’ll be equipped to make decisions that reflect His will for our lives.

We’re all juggling countless tasks, responsibilities, and to-do lists. It’s easy to feel like we’re constantly running from one task to the next without aligning our time with our goals and values, much less giving ourselves time to be immersed in the Word.

But what if we approached our to-do lists differently? What if, instead of just focusing on tasks and deadlines, we aligned them with God’s purpose for our lives? These are a few common tasks I struggle with that I know don’t align with my purpose;

• Excessive Social Media Scrolling: Spending long periods mindlessly scrolling, comparing, and consuming content that drains your energy or fosters envy rather than encouragement.
• Overcommitments to Work or Hobbies: Adding too many extra projects, responsibilities, or recreational activities that crowd out time you could spend with family, in prayer, or serving your community.
• Gossip-Fueled Conversations: Engaging in group texts, calls, or online chats centered around tearing others down instead of speaking truth, love, and encouragement.
• Impulse Shopping or Browsing: Continuously searching online stores, apps, or physical shops for items you don’t need, redirecting time and resources that could be invested more meaningfully elsewhere.
• Unnecessary Meetings or Commitments: Saying “yes” to gatherings or obligations solely out of guilt or FOMO, without considering whether they serve the relationships or causes God has placed in your life.
• Content That Pulls You Away from God’s Truth: Consuming media (videos, podcasts, articles) that leave you feeling more anxious, confused, or spiritually distant, rather than encouraging you toward faith, wisdom, and grace.

These are just a few examples. Not all of these will apply to everyone, but the principle is to pause, evaluate the value and impact of each task, and remove those that don’t bring you closer to God’s heart or help you live out His purpose.

Let’s explore how you can start to intentionally align your time and tasks with God’s purpose, creating a rhythm of life that honors your faith and promotes the immersion we need to purge tasks from our list.

1. Begin the Day with Prayerful Reflection

The start of each day offers a fresh opportunity to refocus and realign. Instead of diving straight into your to-do list (or TikTok), begin by spending a few minutes in prayer. Invite God into your day, asking for His guidance, wisdom, and strength.

• Ask for clarity on the tasks at hand. Pray over your to-do list regularly, asking God to remove anything that’s not serving His will and to bless what remains.
• Reflect on your priorities and ensure they align with your values and God’s will. Before adding an item to your to-do list, ask: “Does this align with what God is calling me to do?”
• Seek peace in knowing that, with God, you are equipped to handle what’s ahead.

Prayerful reflection doesn’t need to be long or complicated. Even just two minutes can set the tone for a more purposeful day. Use habit stacking by attaching a short prayer or reading of a Psalm to an existing habit, like making coffee or brushing your teeth. Or, you can keep a small devotional or verse on a note card by your bedside, so the first thing you see each morning reminds you to spend time with God.

Starting your day grounded in truth makes it easier to identify “counterfeit” obligations that might crop up later. You’ll know the “feel” of authenticity after spending time with God, and anything that diverges from His direction will be easier to spot.

2. Set Boundaries Around Work Hours

God calls us to work diligently, but He also calls us to rest. In our culture, it’s easy to blur the lines between work and rest, leading to burnout and spiritual fatigue. Setting boundaries around your work hours is essential for maintaining a healthy balance between your responsibilities and your need for rest.

• Set clear start and end times for your workday. When you’re done for the day, commit to being fully present in your personal life. Use a digital calendar to mark your “off” hours and stick to them.
• Protect your Sabbath. God designed us to rest and rejuvenate, and it’s important to prioritize this. Whether it’s a full day of rest or mini-Sabbaths throughout the week, carve out intentional time to disconnect and recharge.
• Communicate clearly with colleagues and family members about your rest times so they understand and respect your boundaries. Turn off non-essential notifications after work hours so you’re not tempted to check emails or social media.

Just as those who study real currency know when a suspicious bill doesn’t fit the standard, you’ll know when extra work hours or boundary-crossing commitments feel off. Your sense of authenticity, rooted in God’s Word, will guide you away from activities that encroach on your rest and relationship with Him, making it easier to keep those boundaries firm.

3. Schedule Mini-Sabbaths Throughout Your Week

Sabbath rest is a commandment, but in our busy lives, it’s easy to overlook or skip. While a full day of rest each week is ideal, the reality of our schedules doesn’t always make this possible (take it from someone who is desperately trying to implement this – but that’s for another post). That’s why scheduling mini-Sabbaths—short, intentional moments of rest throughout your day or week—can be impactful.

• Take breaks throughout your day to pause, pray, or meditate on Scripture.
  • Use a Bible study app on your phone to read a few verses instead of scrolling social media.
  • Listen to an audio Bible while driving the kids to school or running errands.
  • Pray briefly before each meeting or appointment.
• Schedule times of solitude where you disconnect from work, screens, and distractions.
• Engage in restorative activities like walking, journaling, or reading that help you refocus and reconnect with God.
• Involve others by making mini-Sabbaths a family practice. For example, have everyone in the home take a quick 5-minute pause in the afternoon to pray or reflect quietly.

These mini-Sabbaths help you constantly recalibrate, reminding you of what’s authentic and life-giving. Each break spent in God’s presence reinforces your familiarity with His truth. So when distractions or unnecessary tasks (the “counterfeits”) try to edge into your schedule, you can more easily say “no” to them.

4. Prioritize What Truly Matters

Your to-do list should reflect not only the urgent but also the meaningful. Each task should serve a greater purpose—whether that’s nurturing relationships, building your skills to serve others, or investing time in personal growth.

Review your tasks at the end of the week. Cross off anything that didn’t align with God’s calling or didn’t serve your higher goals, and learn from that for the coming week. Take time each week to reflect on your priorities:

• Are the tasks you’re doing contributing to your faith and family?
• Are you working towards goals that honor God’s calling for your life?
• Celebrate small wins that align with your values, like spending quality time with a loved one or helping a neighbor in need.

Ask trusted friends or family members to help you discern priorities. Sometimes an outside perspective can clarify what truly matters. Periodically review your schedule and habits. Are they still serving God’s purpose, or have distractions slipped in?

As you align your to-do list with God’s purpose, you’ll find that you make space for the things that matter most, bringing greater joy and fulfillment into your life.

5. Develop Habits for Sustainable Faith-Driven Productivity

Aligning your to-do list with God’s purpose is a journey, not a one-time fix. Developing habits that foster both spiritual growth and productivity is key to long-term success. Set short-term and long-term faith-related goals, like memorizing a certain number of Bible verses per month or reading through a specific book of the Bible.

• Practice gratitude daily: Start each day by thanking God for the gift of life and the tasks you are able to accomplish.
• Stay organized: Use tools like calendars or planners to structure your day with purpose and intention.
• Be flexible: Recognize that things won’t always go as planned. Allow space for God to lead and adjust your day accordingly.

Building habits around these principles will create a routine that reflects both your faith and your goals, fostering an environment where you can live with intention, purpose, and peace.

By expanding on these principles and incorporating practical strategies, you can create a lifestyle where your faith and daily responsibilities coexist harmoniously, allowing you to recognize and reject the “counterfeits” that don’t align with God’s purpose for your life.

Aligning your to-do list with God’s purpose isn’t about adding more tasks or being more productive—it’s about being intentional with the time God has given you and using it to honor Him. By starting each day with prayer, setting boundaries around your work, scheduling mini-Sabbaths, prioritizing what truly matters, and developing sustainable habits, you can create a balanced life that serves both your personal and spiritual needs.

Reflect often on how far you’ve come. Over time, you’ll notice that certain tasks fall away naturally, and you’ll feel more at peace with how you spend your time. Sharing your journey with others can inspire them to seek authenticity in their own lives, too.

Remember, God is with you in every moment, guiding your steps and helping you balance your responsibilities with His purpose. Keep prayer at the center. Whenever doubt or overwhelm creeps in, turn to God for reassurance and direction. As you align your tasks with His will—and deepen your familiarity with the “real thing”—you’ll be fully equipped to dismiss anything that doesn’t measure up to His truth.