Sitting at his feet

One of my favorite games I play with our little dog Luna is throw a toy, she runs after it. And while she is running the toy, I throw another one. She stops, considers her options and chooses. then I throw another one. And on we go. Her confusion pinnacles and then she looks back at me with a “really?” Stare.

I sorta feel like my life can be a little like this. As circumstances get thrown my way, I can easily distracted and end up overwhelmed and confused.

This weekend I was reminded of Martha. And that reminded me of Jesus. Allow me to explain. Distracted by her many tasks, she comes upon the scene of Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus. Rather than pulling Mary into the kitchen, she stands in the doorway (my edit), with her hands on her hips and says to Jesus:

“Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone So tell her to give me a hand.”Luke 10:40 HCSB

She approached Jesus with an imperative. This reminds me of other situations where people ask strongly for Jesus to do something.

Example #1

“Someone from the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’”

Make Jesus help him get money. Say something Jesus.

Example #2

“James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, ‘Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask you.’”

Wow. To me that seems quite bold and a little disrespectful, especially when this last request is RIGHT after Jesus predicts his death for the third time.

All I can think is the person of Jesus was extremely approachable and kind. To us, this speaks of the truth that we may approach Jesus with whatever is on our hearts. He knows it anyway. To lay it out before Jesus, and allow His presence to calm and quiet.

I wonder how I often I come to Jesus with my requests only. Not fostering a relationship, just asking for things. Oh but his response, what do you want me to do for you? Jesus is kind and loving, but the cares of this world and beyond can choke us.

“As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the one who, when they have heard,go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit.”Luke 8:14 HCSB

Jesus tells us:

“Be on your guard so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly like a trap.” Luke 21:34 HCSB

Worry weighs us down. Paul speaks of this in Philippians:

“Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice! [Ps 37:4] Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. [John 14:27]”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭AMP‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1588/php.4.6-7.AMP

Rejoice in the Lord. Not your circumstances, or your bank account, or your health, rejoice in the Lord. Enjoy the Lord and his presence with you. I think I will struggle with this all the days of my life, that when worries come to mind, not trying to scheme and plot the next step, but practice being in His Presence.

His Presence is our answer. Always.

Do not be anxious or worried about ANYTHING. Just as those examples before of people commanding Jesus to do this. Or do that, Paul is commanding us (based off of all the words of Scripture and Jesus) to not to. 🙂

We replace our worries, fears with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. I can see myself on my trips to and from work, the cares and worries of this life weighing me down. There is a practice to this. Training our minds. Speak out my requests, instead of holding them. Giving thanks.

Friend, when life is weighed down by trials, and something moves, something shifts, part of the heaviness has lifted, give thanks. Something in our mind shifts when we do that. I am a testimony these last few months of this very thing.

Yesterday was one of those times. And I shared it with people because, like the widow who found her coin (Luke 15:8-10), I wanted to share the good stuff too.

Martha did the right thing and came to Jesus. She asked. Tell my sister. She allowed stress to cloud her view of what was right in front of her. Jesus. My friend, you have the same Presence in front of you right now. The Spirit lives inside of us. And let’s all get this out on the table, Mary chose better that day. Just saying.

Maybe I need a tattoo with Philippians 4 on it…that would be kinda long. I want to keep truth in front of me. I want that for you too.