Ever start a day early, yet feel behind and overwhelmed the minute your feet hit the floor?
Jam packed with a to-do list that’s too long, even though it’s only 5 a.m., we know there just won’t be enough hours in the day.
We dress in our defeated outfit (armor-less, droopy lips, heavy heart). Powerless is an accurate measure of our strength. Splashing cold water on our face does little to awaken us. The coffee cools before we even realize it’s been in our hand. A call from family or friend at this early hour only puts us further behind. Don’t they know we don’t have time to chit-chat today?
We breathe a prayer and promise the Lord we’ll meet with Him later—after we’ve accomplished the many things we just have to get done. We’re doing these things for Him, so He’ll understand why we need to forgo our usual devotional time, won’t He?
We tackle the first thing on the list. But the family’s tried-’n-true cake recipe flops; Suzie has a temperature and can’t go to school; the brand new container of sour cream for the dip has a layer of green mold on it; the car won’t start; who ate the chips for the dip?; the neighbor rings the doorbell (what do they want now?); the notes for the Bible study (the one the cake and dip are for) are missing – if we get our hands on whoever moved them, they’re going to be really, really sorry!!
Why is all of this happening today? We volunteered to help the Bible study leader. So, why doesn’t the Lord see our servant’s heart and come to our aid? Why does everything have to be a struggle? After all, we’re doing this for the Lord!
We flop in a chair completely deflated. Somewhere between sulking, pouting, fuming, and sobbing, a message begins to weave its way into our spirit. A larger picture forms, and a revelation of a lesson learned long ago slowly sinks in.
“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, NIV)
A cake, dips, and chips can be bought. Time with our children is fleeting. And we don’t know that maybe the Lord has arranged a “divine appointment” with our neighbor so we can share His Good News and love. Perhaps if we’d have kept our devotional time, the most important meeting of each day, His Word would’ve sustained and fortified us, and relaxed our frazzled nerves. He makes us more than conquerors. And dressed in His armor, we’re able to meet the challenges every day holds.
So, should we wake tomorrow, will we start in the kitchen like Martha or at Jesus’ feet as Mary had done?
Loved, loved, loved this post!!! Were you peeking in my kitchen window when you wrote it, my sweet friend? Thank you so much for this reminder of what is the most important accomplishment of the day - time with the Lord!
This post is so true to our lives and the temptation to go it alone when what we need most is God's help. Great post and reminder!
P. S. I love the coffee mug and the flowers.