Be Still and Listen!

"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.” Luke 10:38-42

Today my daughter came to me and told me my husband had called her and told her he had a message for me. I had left my cell phone in the bedroom while I did my daily routine around my house. When she first walked in I thought to myself, "Why didn't he just call me himself?" He had! I was so busy and had my phone turned down so low, I never heard the call. Many times we are like that with God. We wonder why does God speak to everyone else, but we feel like we rarely hear Him? Why are others so filled with vision and knowledge on how to have that vision accomplished, yet we stay in the same place in the same circumstances? Is it God is not "calling" us? Is it He would rather talk to someone else and not us? You wouldn't believe the times I have heard people say these very things. My husband HAD called me. My husband WANTED to talk to me! But, I was so busy with other things I failed to hear the call and even more so, the voice I look forward to hearing everyday! It wasn't that my husband wasn't trying, it was the fact I wa so busy I failed to hear. This is how we can be in our own Christian lives. We are busy doing things we fail to hear when God is trying to speak. Some of these things are good things, but we can get so busy we fail to be quiet before the Lord. My pastor recently gave an illustration and it has come back to my mind many times. He said the Lord's voice wasn't in the storm, wind or fire. God's voice is still and small. You have to listen to hear it! We get so concentrated on DOING things too many times. We get so busy doing things, we even think are for God, yet spend no time asking if it is what He wants at all. Some think it is in demonstrative actions, whether in the church walls or outside of them. Don't get me wrong, I am not at all against these!! I believe in demonstrations fully!! But, many times God is wanting us to be still and be quiet so that He can give us important instructions straight from His throne to our LISTENING ear. This is what had happened with Martha in our scripture for the day. She wasn't doing anything wrong. She wanted everyone to be served the best and everything to look the best it could. She had a house full of people! There was a lot to do!! She began to look and think about what all needed to be done and began to feel the time constraints in which to do them. As she did, pressure built and built in her until she was in judgement and in full blown anger! She actually was telling Jesus off!! She felt isolated, alone, and like she was the only one who was doing anything of benefit! Instead of Jesus saying, "Oh, Martha you poor dear! I am so proud of all the work you have done! Mary should have been more considerate of you! Mary should have tried to see things from your perspective. Mary you should be ashamed! You left everything to Martha and you simply sat!" NO! Jesus went straight to the root of the thing that was bothering Martha. He basically told her she kept busy out of worry and duty and was not serving out of love. The best thing and most NECESSARY thing in life was to spend time in His presence! In His presence is everything Jesus is! He is the prince of PEACE, our bright and morning star that lights our way when all seems dark. He is our Alpha and Omega, beginning and end and everything inbetween! He is our first love! Are you feeling anxious, confused, overly busy? It is time to be quiet and be with Jesus! He is your peace, your refuge from every storm! He is speaking! Are we listening? Have a blessed day in the Lord, my friend, today and everyday!