I had a conversation recently that went something like this: “You spend so much time in your study and quiet time with the Lord. Don’t you think you should be doing other things that are pressing, like writing content for the blog, the podcast, your speaking events, or your book?” It came at a moment when I already felt overwhelmed by everything on my plate: ministry, family, household responsibilities, health. And here’s the thing: the one area I cannot afford to cut back on is my time with the Lord. Because everything else I pour into depends on it. If I stop prioritizing that time, every other area of my life becomes depleted even faster. I don’t pour out from my own strength, I pour out from the overflow of God’s presence in my life. And when the overflow dries up, I have nothing to give. You can’t get water out of a dry sponge. If I’m spiritually or relationally depleted in my walk with God, I won’t have anything fresh to offer you. Nothing rooted in Him. Nothing with His breath on it. I wouldn’t be able to hear His voice the way I do when I intentionally make