Last night I wrapped up a beautiful weekend—perfect weather, time with family and friends, and finally, some quiet moments in God’s Word. Specifically, I re-read the book of James.

Clarity is one of the things I’ve sought more than almost anything else in life. And I know I’m not alone. I know dozens of leaders right now who are searching for clarity—some navigating complex business circumstances, others running teams that seem to be pulling in different directions, and still others re-evaluating what they’re even trying to achieve in the first place.

Every now and then, taking your foot off the gas can be a very good thing.

I’m not talking about quitting your mission or giving something half-effort. I’m talking about hitting the brake pedal, intentionally, for the purpose of rest and recharge.

Today’s story wasn’t chosen by me. It was handed to me, twice, from two different sources. That’s usually a sign that God wants me to hear something. And if that’s the case, I don’t want to leave you out. Maybe He wants you to hear it too!

At the end of a long week, what I look forward to most are the precious couple of hours I get with my family on Friday nights. They've become a needed reprieve as activities, responsibilities, and involvement have steadily increased over time.

This week, I’ve found myself stacking and prioritizing activities with a lot of differing deadlines. Some of what I’m working on needs to be done now, some needs to happen in a certain sequence, and some is reliant on others to complete their work so that larger plans can come together.  Most of us when looking at our "to do" lists want things done immediately. We also want things to be predictable and run smoothly.  We're normal - but this isn't always how it goes.  

This quote, most often attributed to Aristotle, is one of the truest phrases I've ever heard. We are not what we think about. We are not what we say. We are certainly not what we desire, want, or complain about. But—we are also not what we do once in a while, from time to time. We are what we repeatedly do, consistently.

In the fast-paced world of business, leaders are often bombarded with opportunities, ideas, and pursuits that promise success, influence, or financial gain. Some of these paths align with God's calling, but others—what we might call "shiny objects"—are distractions wrapped in justification. These distractions can lead us away from our original mission, tempting us with what John describes as “the pride of life” (1 John 2:16).

Goal setting and understanding the buckets in which we spend our time is one of the most impactful tools for creating a fulfilling lifestyle. Yet, for many of us, life’s demands can make it easy to fixate on one area while neglecting others.