My Beautiful Daughter,
Don’t go work.
Do you remember when I went to visit Mary and Martha? Do you remember how Martha spent all of her time working and making preparations? That has been you. You have been worried about what needs to be done or what people can be helped but in that you’re missing what I have for you. I see how you long to serve me in whatever capacity but today- don’t go to work. I am not trying to confuse you. There will be days that I will ask you to work like Martha but today I am asking you to simply be like Mary. Mary spent her time sitting in my presence. That’s what I have for you today. Sit, get comfy and enjoy my presence.
You see, I am jealous for you and your time. The song lyrics accurately describe how I feel about you, my daughter. For so long you have struggled with making your time worthwhile. You gave into the world’s expectations of how time is to be spent but now I see that you are learning that intimacy with me is all that matters. We are sitting together and the only things that can be heard are the whispers I make to your heart.
I am resurrecting you. I am creating newness in you with everyday that passes. You thought you understood what truly living was but I am bringing about a new vigor to your heart as you spend more time with me. I am taking the life you have always imagined and totally changing it for my glory. The dreams you once fanaticized over are becoming a distant desire that falls short of the plans I have for you. I am resurrecting you just as I was resurrected. I have conquered death for you so that you may live as a new creation.
Your identity rests solely in me. For so long accomplishments and titles defined who you were, but there is no title that you have ever received that amounts to anything I have called you. You are a warrior. You are free. You are clean. You are a conqueror.
Regardless of circumstance, count it all joy. Be joyful in the times that suck because there will be those. It isn’t all easy. Be joyful when the bus is an hour and a half late or when the bugs have eaten the only snack you hid in your tent. Be joyful when you are missing home and the people that you love. Be joyful when the daily walk to ministry is 6 miles. Be joyful when sports ministry takes over your weekends. Be joyful when the bucket showers are cold and the mud gathers at your feet. Count it all joy. Count it joy for whoever lays down their life for my names sake will find it.
Your heart overflows with love that comes from spending time with me. So, don’t go to work. Sit in my presence.
With love that is wider and longer and higher and deeper than you could ever grasp,
Your Heavenly Father
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help 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.’” Luke 10:38-42
