Blog | Greater Formation

Busy or Effective?

growth pleasures priorities purpose worries Oct 09, 2026

We need to be careful not to confuse busyness with effectiveness.Being effective isn’t about doing as many things as possible. It’s about doing the right things—and doing them well. Jesus was incredibly effective, yet He rarely seemed rushed, distracted, or driven by the demands of everyone around Him.

Jesus told us to “seek first” God’s kingdom and His righteousness, with the promise that the other “things” we need will be given to us as well (Matthew 6:33). He also warned that “life’s worries, riches and pleasures” can keep us from growing spiritually (Luke 8).

The challenge is learning to give God our first attention and our highest priorities. As we do that, He can guide us in how we order the rest of our lives. When we trust Him, our lives can become both abundant and effective—empowered by the Holy Spirit rather than driven by our own efforts.

One helpful way to evaluate our lives is to look at what is actually driving our activities. The answers may help us see where some adj...

When “Illusory Delights” Call Your Name

comfort love needs pleasures rights temptation Nov 30, 2025

Sometimes we just want a little satisfaction, don’t we? A touch of comfort, something that takes the edge off, a moment where we feel filled. But, the real question is: what actually meets us at the deeper level?

Paul hints at this in his letter to the Corinthians:

“You say, ‘I have the right to do anything,’ but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” (1 Corinthians 10:23–24)

There’s an even higher call woven through Scripture: to seek God’s will and pursue it with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength.

And yet, we’re often tempted to meet our own needs first—and fast. We lean on our own strategies, or we look to others to fill the gaps. At first, that urge can feel almost noble or necessary. But Ignatius of Loyola, writing in the 15th century, named these moments for what they are: “illusory delights.”

They’re the offerings that shimmer just enough to catch...

Busy or Effective?

When “Illusory Delights” Call Your Name

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