Day 18: Jen Carey
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” - Luke 10:41-42
Some nights, as I lay awake, my mind races with the endless to-dos and the challenges of life. Like many, bedtime often becomes the moment when the weight of family, work, school, and other responsibilities feels most overwhelming. For me, caring for my one-year-old son, managing a home, meeting assignment deadlines for a class I am in, and fulfilling work duties can easily consume my thoughts throughout the day. While these are all precious gifts and privileges, I’ve realized that my constant drive to complete tasks leaves me restless, as if the finish line is always just out of reach. Since my teenage years, I’ve worn busyness like a badge of honor, living life in a constant race to achieve and accomplish. It’s difficult not to live this way when society tends to preach this lifestyle as the most valuable. However, this mindset often distracts me from God’s will, pulling my focus to my own plans and productivity to try to keep up.
In contrast, God calls me—and all of us—to choose Him first, not the things and tasks. He desires that we sit at His feet, worshiping the Giver instead of being consumed by the gifts. The reality is, I will never actually believe that my value does not come from my doing but instead by my being, that is my being in Christ, if I am not consistently developing the discipline of being still before Him. And this indeed is a discipline when there seems to be an endless to-do list.
There’s scripture that I find myself going back to very often to remember the words of Jesus found in Luke 10:41-42. This account is where Mary and Martha were preparing for Jesus to arrive at their home. However, they each handle His arrival differently. Martha was the one preparing the house while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, simply listening to Him. Like any sibling would, Martha reacts with frustration that Mary was not helping and what Jesus says is always convicting to me, “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her”.
The truth is, only when we prioritize time to sit at His feet, like Mary, can we truly steward what He has entrusted to us with peace and purpose. This is a truth I constantly have to remind myself of. Let us remember that our worth isn’t found in how much we accomplish but in whose we are. Resting in Him, we find the strength to face each day with grace.
Prayer
Dear God, there may be a lot I have to do this week or even today, but remind me to first praise what You have done. Help me to first sit at Your feet and worship You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Some nights, as I lay awake, my mind races with the endless to-dos and the challenges of life. Like many, bedtime often becomes the moment when the weight of family, work, school, and other responsibilities feels most overwhelming. For me, caring for my one-year-old son, managing a home, meeting assignment deadlines for a class I am in, and fulfilling work duties can easily consume my thoughts throughout the day. While these are all precious gifts and privileges, I’ve realized that my constant drive to complete tasks leaves me restless, as if the finish line is always just out of reach. Since my teenage years, I’ve worn busyness like a badge of honor, living life in a constant race to achieve and accomplish. It’s difficult not to live this way when society tends to preach this lifestyle as the most valuable. However, this mindset often distracts me from God’s will, pulling my focus to my own plans and productivity to try to keep up.
In contrast, God calls me—and all of us—to choose Him first, not the things and tasks. He desires that we sit at His feet, worshiping the Giver instead of being consumed by the gifts. The reality is, I will never actually believe that my value does not come from my doing but instead by my being, that is my being in Christ, if I am not consistently developing the discipline of being still before Him. And this indeed is a discipline when there seems to be an endless to-do list.
There’s scripture that I find myself going back to very often to remember the words of Jesus found in Luke 10:41-42. This account is where Mary and Martha were preparing for Jesus to arrive at their home. However, they each handle His arrival differently. Martha was the one preparing the house while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, simply listening to Him. Like any sibling would, Martha reacts with frustration that Mary was not helping and what Jesus says is always convicting to me, “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her”.
The truth is, only when we prioritize time to sit at His feet, like Mary, can we truly steward what He has entrusted to us with peace and purpose. This is a truth I constantly have to remind myself of. Let us remember that our worth isn’t found in how much we accomplish but in whose we are. Resting in Him, we find the strength to face each day with grace.
Prayer
Dear God, there may be a lot I have to do this week or even today, but remind me to first praise what You have done. Help me to first sit at Your feet and worship You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Posted in Boast in the Lord \\\'25
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