Last Sunday, our pastor spoke to us about simplifying our lives. Most of us are familiar with the story of Mary and Martha from Luke 11 and have heard numerous sermons offering varying interpretations of this passage. A popular catchphrase in the church today is “the heart of Mary, the hands of Martha”. I don’t think, however, that the story we have supports a positive interpretation of Martha’s behavior. Jesus is clearly admonishing her with the words, “you are careful and troubled about many things” and “only one thing is needful”. Clearly, Jesus felt that Mary had made a wiser and more productive choice than her sister.
What was that “better part” that Mary had chosen? Simply, to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear his word. This is, perhaps, the hardest thing for us to do. Truly, many of us find it easier to run about, busy, distracted and often angry at others who don’t jump in to join our hectic pace; easier only because this has been our habit for so long that to re-evaluate and change our direction would require great effort. Just “calming and quieting [our] soul[s]” as David relates in Psalm 131 would be so against our nature as to be a  monumental task.
But this we must do if we are ever to find that place of rest in Christ, where he teaches, refreshes and renews, so that when we are called to serve, we may do so in His Spirit and not in the flesh. Busyness is not synonymous with the life of Christ.
Many individuals are very busy going about what they believe to be God’s work but accomplishing little because they are not working in His strength. When we take that time to wait before Him, listening,
learning and worshipping, His promise is that “[we] shall run and not be weary, [we] shall walk and not faint.” Today as you worship, consciously slow down your inner self and wait quietly before God. He will send you out renewed and prepared to walk with Him throughout the week.