“When you love, you walk on the water
Just don’t stumble on the waves
We all want to go there somethin’ awful
But to stand there, it takes some grace
‘Cause oh, we are not as strong
As we think we are.”

- Rich Mullins, We Are Not As Strong As We Think We Are

God’s reminders so often come when we’re least expecting it. As one of our co-workers on the field, Thresia, a translator for the Dela project, was working through the book of James and shared these thoughts with us:

There was a certain verse that really spoke to me in James 5:1-6. The part of those verses that stuck in my head was the part about the rich being busy trying to make money for themselves when the “day of judgment” comes.

I went home the day we read that verse, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how I go to the office and work every day, for what? Am I just busy trying to store up money for myself?

I need to remember that it is the Lord that needs to be the most important thing I am seeking.

Don’t we all need that reminder sometimes? I can tell you from personal experience that even working full time in career Christian ministry, I’m tempted to accomplish tasks without regularly reflecting on God’s priorities for my days — priorities of faith, of love, and of hope. Perhaps I need to spend a little more time thinking about verses like those in James each day.

What Scripture helps you keep your focus on God-honoring priorities in your day?

Parke Brown IV is a editorial manager for The Seed Company.