Sitting at His Feet, Forgetting My Worries

"Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.  But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.'  But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'" Luke 10:38-42

I am so easily distracted. Ask anyone I have a conversation with! I'm tellin' ya.  I am the queen of chasing rabits!  God knows this about me all too well.  Distractions are something I struggle with daily in my walk with him.  Stress, worries, and/or doubts usually are what do it too.  It's something I am constantly asking him to forgive me of. Often times, the doubts that creep into my heart are  just silly, and, quite honestly, have absolutely NO firm foundation at all.  Never the less, I get to thinking about them.  Which turns into worrying about them.  Which turns into my head yelling at my heart for being stupid and not just trusting God.  (James and Peter knew what they were talking about when they said that there's a war going on inside of each of us!)

Praise God for his faithfulness! He is always faithful to forgive, and draw me back to him.  It amazes me every time he does...

Tonight was one of those times.  It took him a while... but he finally got me to be still, sit at his feet, and listen. As I read Luke 10:38-42, I was amazed that I ever worry about things other than knowing Christ more deeply.  Because really, what's the point of my life?  To be in a growing relationship with my Savior.  To glorify him through that. Nothing else! My life is not about material things. Not about people. Not about the future.  Not even about worrying what his will is for me!  My life has to be about knowing Christ more and more, and growing in my relationship with God.  Because when it is, he takes care of everything else! Jesus says so in Luke 12:22-32:
"And he said to his disciples, 'Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?  Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!  And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.  For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.  Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.'"

"For all the nations of the world seek after these things."  If by seeking these things, I am being like the world, I want nothing to do with worrying and being anxious!  The last thing I want to be is as the seeds that were thrown among the thorns: "And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature." (Luke 8:14)

I desire to be like Mary.  I want to just sit at Jesus' feet, for that is where a true disciple belongs.  I want my thoughts to be fully focused on the words coming from his mouth, and nothing else.  I long for my heart to desire him, and only him.

"One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple."
Psalm 27:4

"Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.

But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works."

Psalm 73:23-28

 

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Colossians 3:1-2\