As a pastor, one of the questions I hear most often is, _"_

What is God's will for my life?"

When we ask that question, what we usually want to know is the "Master Plan" of what our careers, relationships, finances and major life decisions should be. God certainly cares about those details of your life and mine. In fact, He cares about the details of your life even more than YOU do! His will for your life includes those "big" decisions, but He's also concerned with what you're doing every day. As we follow His plan in our daily choices, those bigger decisions seem to come into a clearer focus.

So, for starters, let's commit do doing what we know God wants us to do TODAY and everyday. Your daily to-do list (and mine) includes...

1. Be thankful

It's nearly impossible to be thankful and stressed at the same time. The Bible has so much to say about choosing an attitude of gratitude even in life's toughest circumstances. We ALWAYS have reasons to be thankful, so instead of just telling God all that you need, start by thanking Him for all He's already done.

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

2. Do something to help somebody else

We live in a selfish world and we all wrestle against our own selfish human nature, but God calls us to serve others as a way to help others and also break the grip of selfishness in our own lives. God's will becomes clearer when we're serving like Jesus did. "Greatness" in God's eyes isn't about how many people serve you; it's about how you're serving other people.

"But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Matthew 20:25-29

3. Do the right thing; not the easy thing

Each day, you'll be presented with opportunities that tempt you to compromise your character, but don't do it. Make EVERY decision based on what's right; not on what's easy. When you strive to honor God brings big blessings when we honor Him even in small choices. God is working through your struggles to develop strength within you.

"No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." - Micah 6:8

4. Stop worrying

When we worry, we create the illusion that our problems are bigger than our God. When we choose to trust God, even in the midst of challenging circumstances, God's peace rushes in and chases away the worry and anxiety.

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

5. Be yourself

You don't need to get caught in the "comparison trap." You can learn from other people, but you don't need to compare your life to anyone else's. Be the unique masterpiece God created you to be and allow His love and grace to transform you into the best version of yourself.

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." - Ephesians 2:10

This article was originally published on Patheos. It has been republished here with permission.