“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)
By JJ Borja
I was up in the catwalk of a church, getting things ready for an upcoming conference. I was making sure the audio/visual was working well and everything was going to be pristine.
It was 7:00 p.m., and my wife asked me to do something with her that night. I said to myself, “Let me finish this for the conference first. It starts tomorrow,” and in my high-achieving personality, this was the most important thing to do.
As I continued my work, I heard the Holy Spirit say: “You are not doing this for me.”
“What do you mean?” I responded, “I’m setting this up so people will receive what the speakers say from you. Of course it’s for you.”
Mind you, I was a lot younger and still thought I knew better than God. The Holy Spirit responded, “But I didn’t ask you to do this, and because of that, your wife cries to me because you are not with her.”
That moment shifted how I approached ministry and caused me to reassess saying “yes” to everything. I wish I would have heeded the correction more deeply, because 10 years later, both my wife and I were burned out because I made the mistake of pulling her into ministry with me and not always asking the Holy Spirit for guidance.
It is important to seek God and make sure that we know, that we know, that we know, that we know God wants us involved in the thing(s) being asked of us. If not, we risk disobedience to him—although church culture many times celebrates being busy for the church. We should also be mindful of potentially sacrificing what God has us in covenant with before the church: our marriage and family. Letting him lead makes us the biggest blessing.
Pray
Lord, help us to seek your will in an effort to seek the elusive “work/life” balance so that we may serve you more fully.
Reflect
Have you been disobedient to God? What was the outcome? What could you have done to change the outcome?
Discuss
Share about a time when you let God lead you in a direction that you did not consider and how that turned out.
JJ Borja is WorkLight’s communications director and a member of the Hawaii Chapter. He is an entrepreneur, former pastor, and community leader with over 30 years experience in business and 26 years of ministry experience.