On this episode:
This episode talks about the importance of prioritizing time alone with God.
Episode Transcript
Opening
Is it better to be like Martha or Mary? Let’s talk about that. Have today’s episode.
You’re listening to Your Faith At Work with Dr. Ryan S. Howard, a podcast to inspire and equip you to partner with God in your daily work. Visit your YourFaithAtWork.org to learn more and download your free copy of 21 Days to a New Workplace You.
Episode
Well, I’m sure that you have heard of the biblical story of Martha and Mary with Jesus where He’s in their house with them. And I want to start out just by reading that and talk about a few lessons. One key lesson that we can take from that today. This is in Luke chapter 10 starting in verse 38, it says, “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.’
What’s Jesus talking about? Well, she had an opportunity to sit at the feet of the Messiah, Jesus Christ and learn from Him. This was an incredible opportunity and she took advantage of it. Instead of being distracted with all the stuff that she needed to do like Martha was.
Be Like Mary
Well, obviously we want to be like Mary and prioritize our intimacy with Jesus. Our time alone carved out with the Lord. One of the things that I’ve really recognized is that in my walk with Christ, I can really tell a difference when carving that time out with the Lord is a priority in my life. Especially if I’m doing it in the morning, but if I’m doing it on a regular, consistent daily basis. Whether I’m reading the Bible, whether I’m journaling, whether I’m reading another book, whether I’m worshiping, whatever it is, fellowshipping with other believers as well.
But that time carved out alone with the Lord really sets everything up for just living out the way God planned us to live, to have what He wants us to have and to do what He wants us to do, go where He wants us to go.
I’ve noticed though, when I prioritize that and do that to start my day, everything else just seems to fall into place. That doesn’t mean everything goes perfect, but I certainly, I seem just more aware of my surroundings, more aware of what I need to be focused on, I feel like God is with me. I have clarity in the way that I’m walking and I feel I can sense God is there with me and guiding me when I prioritize that.
But when I don’t, I don’t have so much clarity with what I’m going to work on. There could be a thousand things I’m going to try and write about or record or talk about. I’m not sure which book I want to read, not your, this, that or that or the other thing, whatever it is, I just don’t have that kind of clarity.
But when I focus on that priority, prioritizing that time with Jesus, that time carved out with him, I get my priorities straight. I get what I need to work on. And like I said, everything just falls into place.
What About You?
So what about you? Are you more like Martha, where you gotta really just hurry and try and get everything done and just focus, focus on do, do, do? Or is your priority first to have that time alone with the Lord so that you can be set up to work on the right things at the right time and the right direction?
Well, I want to say that of course we’ve got to do things, but first needs to be the priority of our time alone with Jesus. So think about that this week and see how you can make sure you’re carving out that time, like Mary did, to be a disciple of Jesus and have that be the number one priority.
Closing
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