Kingdom Mindset

by Kayla Brooks

“Just because you put your toothbrush in your mouth doesn’t mean your teeth are clean!”

I say this to my daughters at least once a week—sometimes raising my voice to be heard over the sound of a running faucet from the other room, and other times crouching down in front of them with that serious, “I need your full attention” kind of eye contact.

I always follow up with a question for them to reflect on, “What happens if you don’t brush your teeth the right way?”

Their typical response? A defeated sigh and a sluggish, Eeyore-like mumble: “We’ll get cavities.” Then, they drag their feet back to the bathroom for a second attempt at the dreaded teeth-brushing.

It may be a “check” off the to-do list, but they have to learn - cavities will form if they don’t brush properly.

As I thought back to those repeated conversations with my children, I realized just how profound this simple concept was. What began as a basic lesson for them soon became a challenge for me, reaching far beyond the topic of brushing teeth. I found myself reflecting on other areas of my life where the “toothbrush” analogy applied, such as, “I can’t just walk into a gym and expect to get healthier!” It would be absurd to think otherwise, right? Of course, it would! To see results, you have to put in the work.

This concept convicted me as I considered how it applied to my own walk with Christ. Reading my Bible must be more than just an item on my to-do list.

Let that sink in for a minute. If you need to, read it again.

I don’t know about you, but my to-do list is usually overflowing with tasks—everything from work deadlines to laundry to chauffeuring kids around to after-school activities. It’s easy to push aside intentional, life-giving time with God and His Word in the rush of it all.

How do most of us sort our to-do lists? We typically put the most important things at the top—the “must-do’s” usually take priority over the “could-do’s.” And yet, how often do we find ourselves shifting our time with the Father and His Word around to the end of the list? Before we know it, it ends up going on an “if I get around to it” list.

I realized through the concept of this simple “toothbrush” analogy that I needed to develop a better Kingdom Mindset—a shift in priorities where our relationship with God takes precedence over everything else. It’s a mindset that acknowledges this world isn’t our home and calls us to live in a way that honors Him.

So, what does a Kingdom Mindset look like in action? What does it look like to have intentional time in the Word and with the Father, and to, overall, live a life with the mindset of prioritizing Heaven more than the things of this world?

The Bible gives us an incredible example in the life of a shepherd boy who became a king—David.

David’s story powerfully demonstrates a Kingdom Mindset. He faced immense challenges throughout his life—running from King Saul, fighting battles against enemies, and even dealing with personal betrayal from his own son, Absalom. Yet through it all, David’s first instinct was to turn to God.

Now, let’s be clear—David wasn’t perfect. He made some major mistakes. However, the difference is that David brought his failures to God instead of running from God.

David writes in Psalm 27:4 (NIV):

“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”

David’s resolute desire to seek God above all else makes this verse so encouraging. Even in the middle of trials and uncertainty, his deepest longing was to seek and be near God–That’s a Kingdom Mindset.

That was David’s prayer, but his life also offers many examples of a Kingdom Mindset in action:

Sparing Saul’s life (1 Samuel 24, 26): Saul was trying to kill David out of jealousy, yet when David had the opportunity to end Saul’s life, he refused. Instead, David chose to honor God’s timing and plan, saying, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed” (1 Samuel 24:6).

Bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6): One of David’s first actions as king was to bring the Ark—representing God’s presence—to the center of the nation, demonstrating his commitment to making worship a priority.

Desiring to build God’s temple (2 Samuel 7): Though God didn’t allow David to build the temple, David’s heart was in the right place. He wanted to honor God with a permanent place of worship, and when God made a covenant with him instead, David responded with humility and gratitude.

In each of these moments, David chose to seek God’s will above his own desires.

Now, maybe you’re thinking, “That’s great for David, but my struggles don’t look like that today.”

Then, let’s also take a quick look at how Jesus describes this “Kingdom Mindset” concept in Matthew 6, which is more focused on how we should handle our priorities today.

In this chapter, Jesus teaches about what matters most: giving to the needy, praying, fasting, and focusing on eternal treasures instead of temporary ones. And above all, He calls us to:

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33, NIV).

As we’ve seen from David’s life and Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 6, a Kingdom Mindset requires more than just occasional moments of focus on God—it’s about making Him the priority in all areas of life. It’s a mindset that values eternal priorities over temporary distractions and chooses to honor God in the smallest of daily decisions.

But how does this translate to our daily devotional lives? Does it mean waking up at 4:30 a.m. every day to spend an hour in prayer? Not necessarily. A Kingdom Mindset isn’t about rigid rules or perfection—it’s about the posture of your heart.

Much like brushing your teeth, developing a Kingdom Mindset requires intentionality. It’s about deliberately seeking His Word and aligning your priorities with His. When we place our Kingdom responsibilities above worldly ones, we offer God our best—the first and most intentional parts of our day—rather than our leftovers.

For some, that might mean waking up a little earlier to spend quiet time with God before the chaos of the day begins. For others, it could look like giving up an hour of TV time after work or pausing for prayer after dropping the kids off at school, even when you’re eager to jump into your to-do list.

It’s easy to let the busyness of life push our time with God to the back burner, but as we align our hearts and actions with His, we begin to see a transformation in our lives. So, ask yourself today: What does a Kingdom Mindset look like for you, and how can you begin to live it out in your everyday choices?