The Simple Things
Today’s Truth
Now as they went on their way, He entered a certain village,
where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home .
Friend to Friend
Balance always requires a fierce and ruthless examination of
priorities. Our true priorities are not just lists of activities. They
are candid reflections of our heart desires. What we deem important
receives the most time, energy, attention and resources. The importance
of right and balanced priorities is illustrated by the life of Martha.
Jesus knew that He was always welcome in the home of Martha.
Scripture tells us that Jesus “had no place to lay His head,” but He
often came to this home when He needed to rest or get away from the
demanding crowds. At the age of thirty, the Son of God left His natural
home and there is no record of His ever returning to live there. He
often went to Bethany, to the house of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, and
even spent His final week on earth there. Jesus didn’t have to wonder
if He was welcome in this home or if Martha was “ready” for His
presence. He knew she was. Can He say the same about us?
Seeking God begins with recognizing who He is and then inviting Him into our lives as Lord and Savior. If He is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at
all. For some of us, the problem is not that we lack a personal
relationship with God. Our problem is that we are not “making room” for
that relationship. Balance comes when we yield to His plan in the
everyday moments of life.
One summer our family went to Pennsylvania where we
visited Amish country. I have always been fascinated by the Amish
people and enjoyed every minute spent in their beautiful and carefully
ordered world. As our visit came to an end, I wanted to buy a souvenir
to remind me of the peaceful days we had spent there, but everything I
picked up was too expensive. Being a committed shopper, I was not about
to let that stop me.
We travelled up and down the small hidden back roads of
each community, looking for the Amish products known only to a few and
to those relentless shoppers who were willing to persevere. I was
beginning to lose hope when I spotted the small, white sign posted on
the fence of a quaint and absolutely perfect house. “Amish Crafts” it
said. This was it!
As we climbed out of the car, a sense of peace settled
around us like an old familiar blanket. Our voices immediately dropped
to a whisper as we tiptoed up the narrow stone path and gently opened
the screen door. When we stepped onto the porch filled with beautiful
Amish crafts, a woman welcomed us with a beautiful smile and introduced
herself as Mary. She invited us to browse and to let her know if we
needed any help. I have to admit that I was almost rude in my pathetic
attempts to catch a glimpse of her home through the porch windows.
Reading my mind, she graciously offered, “Would you like to come in and
look around?” I thought she’d never ask!
Mary’s home revealed a world very different from mine and an
uncommonly simplistic lifestyle I desperately longed to experience. The
house was sparsely furnished with only the necessities. Mary described
her life and daily routine with words like “calm, uncomplicated,
peaceful and serene.” When I asked why she had chosen such a lifestyle,
she sweetly responded with words of wisdom I will never forget, “I
have discovered that when my life and my heart get too crowded, there is
not enough room for God.” Exactly!
An unbalanced life is too crowded for God. It is so easy to relegate
our spirituality to religious activity when all He really wants is to
spend time with us. He wants to wipe away every tear. God longs to
share every hurt and celebrate every victory. The Father yearns to wrap
His strong arms around us, bringing the peace and balance we so
desperately need.
Instead, we often relinquish control of our life to unworthy demands
dictated by a world that operates in “urgent” gear. We forget what is
really important. The important rarely barges in while the urgent is
always an offensive intruder. Certainly, there are times when the
important is also urgent – but we must learn to discern between the
two. We wrongly conclude that a busy life is automatically a productive
life and think that a full schedule will surely produce a full heart.
I have great news! He loves who you are more than He loves what you do. Seek Him today. Make room for Him. He is waiting.
Let’s Pray
Father, I am too busy and sometimes I feel like my life is spinning
out of control. I’m tired. Help me learn how to establish priorities
that please You and reflect Your plan for me. I commit to spending time
with You each day, seeking Your wisdom and direction. I love You,
Lord.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Are you ready to evaluate your life according to God’s priorities?
Set aside time today to spend with Him. Grab your journal and record
the truths He gives you about how to balance your life.
Determine the top five life priorities of your life. Brutally examine
your calendar and checkbook to see where you spend most of your time
and resources. We can give lip service to what we think our priorities
should be, but until our daily schedule reflects those priorities, we
are only "playing at life."
More from the Girlfriends
Do you or someone you love struggle with depression? Mary’s book, Hope in the Midst of Depression, offers practical steps you can take to get out and stay out of that pit. And be sure to check out the FREE MP3s on Mary’s website in the Freebies Section and connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.
Seeking God?
Click HERE to find out more about how to have
a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Girlfriends in God