How do you keep first things first? In your devotions, do your thoughts and the day’s list of to-do’s intrude? How do you keep your mind from wandering? In today’s post, I share how I keep first things first when that to-do list tries to distract me from my time in God’s presence.
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The day was wide open before me. I had a long list of things I hoped to accomplish on my one day off and was excited with anticipation of all I could get done.
I allowed myself the luxury of pressing the “snooze” button on my alarm a couple of times that morning since the tasks to get done that day were not scheduled at specific times. Still, I somehow felt like I “ran behind.”
Do you ever feel that way?
Showered and dressed, bed made, I sat legs-crossed in my sitting area over-stuffed chair ready for my time with the Lord. My Bible fallen open on my lap, I turned to the passage for the day’s reading. But first, I opened in prayer.
When your mind wanders during quiet time
As I laid my heart before the Lord, the unwritten agenda for the day intruded. Blog post ideas, writing commitment deadlines, emails to return, phone calls to make, appointments to schedule, laundry to wash, groceries to be bought, prescriptions to pick up, thank you notes to write all crashed in on the solitude and serenity of my so-called “Quiet Time” with the Lord. As hard as I tried, my mind kept wandering to the never-ending list of tasks screaming for my attention.
It reminded me of one of my favorite stories:
“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)
I love the story of Mary and Martha because I can relate to both within a single day, and in the situation I relayed above, even within the same moment. I have a Mary heart and long to sit at the feet of Jesus talking with Him and learning about the things of the kingdom. Yet simultaneously, I possess a built-in Martha personality, wired to do and to accomplish and to make things happen. Both characteristics struggle for equal expression.
I love how scripture relays that Martha was doing what she “had to do.” It communicates that Martha wasn’t wrong for doing those things, but rather it was her stressing and worrying that got her in trouble with Jesus. Good for me to remember and to keep that in perspective!
Limiting distractions to keep first things first
In my alone times when I desire my first and foremost focus to be on God, I find it helpful to have a notepad by my side to limit becoming distracted by the stresses of the things that need to get done that serve as a distraction from my intimacy with God. When the enemy can’t destroy you, he’ll do whatever he can to distract you.
It was certainly working that morning.
I also find repentance and thanksgiving to be very helpful as well: repentance for allowing the tasks of the day to interrupt my devotion to God, and thanksgiving that God gives me so many things to be involved in. It sort of defuses the enemy’s fire.
I love that God provided a place for both Mary and Martha, just no place for stress and worry. I can be productive and task-oriented, but I must establish my priorities, and my first thing needs to stay first: spending time in His presence. I am quite grateful that He desires that from me. It’s a gift–not a reprimand.
Because of Him, #PeacePrevails!
Even in times of crisis, every day can be a good day when you trust the promises of God.
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I can so relate to this. I have both Martha and Mary in my heart. And I love that even though they fight sometimes, neither one is right or wrong. I don’t need to silence either. We are made to do and create and take care of, and we are made to form a relationship with God and others and meditate on his word.
I’m definitely a mixture of both these women. You helped me see that’s ok. xo
Always love your blog! So me! God bless!
I love this story of Mary of Bethany and her alabaster box, even if something is left undone, I have to sit at His feet. It is the one needful thing.
I struggle with both Mary and Martha in my own life–the choice of “better” and “best”. I’m grateful He extends and open invitation to sit. I hadn’t considered the idea that He never reprimanded Martha. Beautiful!
Hi Michelle! Your post reminded me of the book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. I totally get the distraction in prayer, and the need to bridge the gap between work and sitting quietly with the Lord. It’s a hard balance, no question.
From Tell His Story,
Ceil
Hi Michelle! Thanks for your perspective on Martha and Mary. I think it’s so important to see the balance of the work God has ahead of us, as well as the time we spend at His feet in worship. The balance of our time is so crucial to how God can use us! Your neighbor at #livefreethursday
I truly enjoyed your post ! I have often struggled with being a Mary in a Martha world! Its so easy to get caught up and loose sight of what is truly important! Depression is a real thing ….. that’s touched my life in more than one way! Thank you for sharing your heart! Praying you have a blessed week!
Michelle, it’s scary how much I can relate to this. I long to sit at His feet but the to-do’s on my list keep crowding in. “First things first” has become a set of buzz words in our family as I encourage my children to establish this habit, all the while trying to find ways to make it my own.
Thanks for sharing this encouragement, dear friend.
Blessings!
Marva | SunSparkleShine
Happens all too often. The to-do list pushes its way to the front of the line, screaming, “Me first!” Goodness, and the curse of being a writer, or at least a wanna-be writer, is thinking of the BEST blog posts, and in my case story ideas as well, either while showering, driving, or praying. 😉
Thanks for sharing at Literacy Musing Mondays and making me feel a bit more normal! Have a great week.
Boy do I get this?! I can be both Mary and Martha as well. My heart desires to linger with Him while my mind is swirling with what I need to do next on my list. Great post?
OK too funny, we wrote about very similar things again, just days apart, but since we probably both had them prescheduled, it was probably at the same time. God has a way of getting a message across to His people doesn’t He? LOL Oh and I love how you point out that He made a space for them both, just not for their stress and worry! Love it and love you
This is so rightly timed! This message seems to be popping up all around me lately to “keep the first things first” . Even more, the song that is out now by Consumed By Fire titled “First Things First”. What a powerful reminder. Thank you for the tips to help block out the distractions of the enemy.
I believe God gave to each of us the Mary and Martha combination to teach us about prioritizing our life efforts–our “musts” and our “desires” as we begin each day.
I so appreciate this message. I do have my time with the Lord but I find evening is my Bible reading time and relaxing time in my day as my hubby and I settle in the living room together, both reading either the Bible or stories with a Biblical emphasis and then we can discuss what we are reading and share hearts. My morning time before I get and busy is in prayer for many loved ones and committing my day to the Lord. Now I do get distracted from that now and then and your message is so very encouraging and helpful! Thank you for sharing how the Lord has taught you to focus on Him.