There’s a certain passage in Scripture that I have been repeatedly coming back to recently. A very short story of only five verses; yet gives me such a sobering snapshot of how I am so often of the time. And when I read this, I see myself, and then I hear:
STOP AND SHUT UP!
Let me clarify
One thing I have done, mostly in my college days, before I could do any work, I needed to make sure my room or work area was spotless. I couldn’t function if I knew that I had to make my bed, clear off my desk, fix up all my clothes, put any random items away in their proper place, re-organize and alphabetize all my dvds, etc. I just couldn’t get myself to be productive unless I made everything nice and clean. ONLY THEN…only then could I do what was important.
A lot of the time, admittedly, I do the same thing spiritually. I worry. And I like to plan ahead. We worry so much about steps 2 through 20, but completely neglect step 1. By this, I refer to the fact that the first and most important thing we can ever do in our walk of faith is to STOP AND SHUT UP, and just spend time in silence with The Lord. THAT place, is the only place where we will get the direction and clarity it is that we are looking for.
Skip to the story: Mary & Martha
Here is what I’m referring to:
“As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her hoe. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was worrying over the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My hear Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only ONE thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it – and I won’t take it away from her.”
~Luke 10:38-42
Martha is running around the house, making sure everything looks perfect, making sure dinner is top notch etc., and is frustrated that her sister is simply sitting at the feet of Jesus, not helping out at all. Jesus tells her Mary is doing the better thing, sitting at His feet and spending time with Him rather than trying to impress or please Him.
Here is where I connect
A lot of the time, I’m trying to plan things out, such as “how can I DO more”. I’m day dreaming about steps 2 through 10 again, but HOW CAN AN EMPTY CUP FILL ANOTHER? Where can one fill up his or her cup? Only at the never-ending fountain that is Jesus and the Word of God. Now, when I find myself fantasizing about whatever the future holds, I think of Mary and Martha, and how I need to slow down, sit down, and shut up, and just spend time with the Lord. Allow Him to speak to me, because if I’m only operating out of my own strength, I will surely fail…no doubt about that.
There’s something else that I notice about this passage that I will be very honest about, and hopefully it will encourage you, wherever you are at. Sin keeps us low, and makes us feel so far from God. We all screw up and fall short of the glory of God. Whenever I feel like I’ve screwed up or sinned, I don’t feel like I’m worthy to even speak to God. I get in the mentality that I must first “clean myself up” and make sure I’m in a decent place BEFORE I can pray, or spend time with Him.
BUT HERE’S THE REALITY
The time’s when we feel we have failed God are the time’s, more than any others, where we need to RUN to him! Not wait until we bandage ourselves up and hobble over to Him on our broken legs! He wants to take care of us immediately and constantly desires us to have a longing to be with Him. He’s our FATHER who LOVES us. He’s not an angry or a vengeful God. Come as you are and don’t delay!
I don’t want to worry. I don’t want to freak out. I don’t want to panic about alllllll the things I need to do. The one thing that will give me a level head about everything I do in life, is the presence of God. This week, make time for God to speak into your life. It’s through these quiet moments where we tune out all distractions where He can finally speak the loudest. So settle yourself down, sit down, and shut up! Do yourself a favor and take the route of Mary.
