How are you being?

Martha was upset over all the work she had to do, so she came and said, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!’

The Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha! You are worried and troubled over so many things, but just one is needed. Mary has chosen the right thing and it will not be taken away from her.’
(verses 40-42)

Read Luke 10:38-42

Sometimes I look at my life and wonder, ‘Have I done enough?’ I often feel the need to do more in my service to God, trying to meet other people’s and my expectations. The problem is that God expects far more from me than I am able to do. My desire to meet expectations will inevitably fail. I can’t do enough as a Christian; I have to learn to be a Christian.

Martha in her effort to be a good host, got stressed over trying to meet expectations. But Jesus said, ‘Only one thing is needed’, which is what Mary was doing. She was sitting in the presence of Jesus.

In his book The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence reveals the joy he found when he learnt how to spend every moment just being with God. It’s not as easy as it sounds to be constantly listening to God and talking to him. But whenever I have tried it, my stresses have disappeared and so has the burden of wondering whether I’ve done enough.

God enjoys the things you do for him, but he loves more than anything the time you spend with him.

Dear God, as I go about my day, keep reminding me that you are with me. Teach me to listen to you and to talk to you. Amen.

by Kathy Hoopman, in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

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