A Prayer to Choose Jesus
By Maggie Meadows Cooper
“She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks…” - Luke 10:39-40 CSB
In recent weeks and months, I have found myself feeling disconnected from the Lord. Still praying, still going to Bible Study and church, still doing all the things…but just feeling a little like an outsider looking into my faith life at times. I’m saying the right words, making choices to honor Him most days, but I just feel “off.” Do you know what I mean? So, I went to the Lord with my concerns, and I felt Him say, “Maggie, your heart for Me hasn’t changed, but you’ve been distracted.”
And He’s right. My husband and three kids, work, end of school stuff, sports, travel, church obligations…there are a lot of things to divide my attention and my time from the One who matters most. And when I felt Him share that, I immediately thought of Martha. Some of you may know why. But others may not, so if you don’t know the story of Martha and Mary, here it is:
“While they were traveling, he entered a village and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 CSB
This story is well-known to many and has been written about and shared too many times to count. But as many times as I’ve heard it, it still touches my heart and proves to be a lesson I haven’t mastered yet and most likely never will. But out of this short message, the Lord put a few new things on my heart, and I hope they will encourage you as well.
First, opening our home to Jesus is not enough. The scripture says, “...Martha welcomed him into her home…but she was distracted by her many tasks” Luke 10:38,40. Opening the door is not enough. How many of us invite Jesus in, show Him around, and tell Him how thankful we are for Him, then “sit” Him down in a corner to wait until we have finished our to-do list to sit and talk with Him? I certainly have, and it hurts my heart. I truly believe that distraction is one of the biggest tactics Satan uses to keep us from time with Jesus. It’s such a simple strategy, that makes our time away from the Lord seem innocent as we are working on other worthy tasks, yet ultimately, we are putting them above our time with Him. The urgent seems to override what is most important over and over again. Yes when we invite other guests into our home, we sit and talk and eat and listen. And we should do the same for Jesus.
Second, spending time with Jesus, listening and learning, is necessary to accomplish all of the other things in life. In verse 40, Martha asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone?...” I must say I find myself asking Him the same question sometimes, and I think we could all fill in the blank with our own worries and responsibilities. “Lord, don’t you care that ______________???” But I believe His answer would be the same to us as it was to her. He replied, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary.” He called her by name, twice. Maybe because she wasn’t listening the first time, and he needed her to stop and look at Him. But I think he did it for emphasis, to show His care for her. To show her that he knew her heart and would call her out by name because of how very much he loved her. Jesus recognized her every worry, and He did not discount them. But He lovingly reminded her of the one thing that is necessary in this life: sitting at His feet, setting the to-do list aside, listening, and learning from Him. Necessary means “needed, essential, the basic requirements of life.” When Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” in John 15:5, I think this is what he meant. Our time with Him is necessary.
And lastly, we all have a choice to make, each and every day. After Jesus told Martha what was necessary in verse 42, he said, “Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.” Other translations say that Mary chose what was “better” or “the good portion.” Y’all, this implies that Martha’s choice to run around, fixing a fancy dinner, setting the table, seeing to guests, etc. was not what she needed to do in that moment. Within that room there was a clear decision to be made. I understand Martha’s feeling of duty to be hostess, her longing to maybe impress the guests that were there, and maybe a little of the pride that goes along with those things. I don’t think this means there’s not a time for that. But right there, in that moment, he knew that what he had to offer was life-sustaining and necessary to accomplish all of the other little tasks. And Mary chose first to spend her time with Him.
Sweet friends, my disconnect has come from the distractions of life. The choices I’ve made to put other things ahead of my time with Jesus. And maybe you have done the same at times. But the beautiful message of this story is that Jesus didn’t cast Martha aside. He left her again with a choice to be made. I’ve often wondered if she came and sat down with him in that moment. If she set her apron and oven mitt aside to sit with Mary at his feet. And the truth is that we don’t know. But that choice is not just for Martha. It’s for us too.
Open your home to Jesus. Invite him in and prepare to give him your best, but don’t leave him sitting alone. Take the time to sit at His feet and listen as He fills you with the necessary Words of Truth you need to live this life. Then make that choice over and over again. May we all choose what is right, better, and the good portion each and every day.
Let’s pray:
Dear Jesus,
There are so many tasks to accomplish in this life, and I admit that I sometimes get distracted. Please forgive me for putting my to-do list and worries above time with you. Help my heart stay turned toward You as I take the time to sit at your feet, listen, and choose You over and over again. Thank You for Your grace, Your mercy, and Your willingness to let me choose again.
In Your Mighty Name, Jesus, amen.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Therd oval
Maggie Meadows Cooper is a wife, mom, educator, author, and blogger with a longing for women to grow a heart for Jesus and others. She is the author of the children’s book “Bumper” and blogs at The Little Moments about what the Lord is teaching her through her children and everyday life. She contributes to Blogs by Christian Women, Devotional Diva, She Disciples, and Connecting Ministries. An educator with an M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from Auburn University (War Eagle!), she has twenty years of experience working with young children. She loves all things chocolate, real Coca-Cola, and lives with her husband, three children, and two rambunctious dogs in Opelika, Alabama.
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
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