I recently paid $3 for a pineapple from Costa Rica, which means somebody did the hard work of planting, watering, waiting, and eventually harvesting. Then, I assume it made its way to my neck of woods by truck-some 3,700 miles. Not bad for $1.49, right? Did you know there was a time when pineapples used to be so expensive and highly sought after that only the extraordinarily wealthy could stand a chance of having one? At its peak, a pineapple sold for as much as $8,000 in today's currency. Instead of eating it, people would display the fruit at viewing parties until it rotted. So, what has changed between the $8,000 pineapple and the one I bought for $1.49? Simply put, they are now easy to come by. I think we sometimes have the same attitude toward God: Because we have such easy access to him, we forget the value of what we have. The next time you "approach the throne of God boldly" (Heb. 4:16), take a moment and thank God for this wonderful, beautiful life, and understand because of Jesus the Vail has been torn and we have direct access to God.

Have you ever caught yourself thinking this? “I just need to get through this season, then I’ll have more space and time for God.” That thought usually shows up when life feels full but hollow. Work is taking a toll. Responsibilities are stacking. From the outside it looks productive, but internally something feels off and empty. Faith gets pushed to the margins, not out of rebellion, not on purpose, but out of postponement. So what is really happening when God keeps getting pushed to “later?” Often it is not a lack of belief. It is a quiet assumption that everything else must be handled first. As if peace, clarity, and provision come after control instead of before surrender. This raises an honest question. What if our priority order is the problem? Jesus was clear about this. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 NIV Notice what comes first. Not success. Not security. Not getting life organized. Seeking. Alignment. Trust. The promise is not that everything becomes easy. The promise is that everything falls into its proper place. Many of us live upside down. We chase provision and assume peace shows up later. God invites us to reverse that order. Seek Him first, and let clarity, strength, and direction follow. And seeking the kingdom does not mean ignoring responsibility. It means refusing to let responsibility replace devotion. It means inviting God into the very center of your decisions, your schedule, and your ambition. If you feel like you are doing everything but still feel empty, it may be because you have been building a life with God added instead of God centered. So pause and ask yourself this. What am I seeking first when no one is watching? Here is today’s active stillness challenge. Find five quiet minutes. No phone. No input. Sit or stand somewhere calm. Slow your breathing. Ask God one simple question. “What does seeking You first look like in my life right now?”