Is your life too busy?
God speaks to us in "the still small voice" of conscience,[1] but if we are too busy, we will miss His voice. We will be like Martha who was encumbered with much service, without God. But Mary chose the good part and sat in silence at Jesus' feet. Let us read from the Gospel of Luke.
“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”[2]
Are you getting quiet before God? Are you spending time in meditation by reading God's word, walking in nature, listening to uplifting Christian music, sitting by the beach or in a quiet place in your backyard, or just lying in bed with your heart and mind outstretched to Him? Or are you letting the “cares and richess of this life choke”[3] out your time with God, so that you become unfruitful?
Mother Teresa wrote,
"The fruit of silence is prayer.
The fruit of prayer is faith.
The fruit of faith is love.
The fruit of love is service.
The fruit of service is peace."[4]
If you are lacking these fruits, maybe you need to start learning how to get quiet with God.
We all need more quiet time alone with Him, resting at His feet, hearing His sweet voice calling us to take upon us His yoke of humilty, love, and service for others. Jesus said,
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”[5]
In the Psalms we read,
"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."[6]
"Wait (sit in silence in His presence) on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."[7]
The Lord through Isaiah tells us the following:
"He gives power to the faint; and to them who have no might he increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fail: but they that WAIT upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."[8]
Are you feeling weary with the battle you are facing in life? Do you need something that can really renew you and give you new strength and vigor? God is not far from any one of us and waits quietly for us to seek Him. Turn to God today, He promises to give you strength for the battle, light for the way, and even joy unspeakable.
“In quietness and confidence shall your strength be.”[9]
Notes:
[1] 1 Kings 19:8-12, “9 And he (Elijah) came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
[2] Luke 10:38-42 Authorized (King James) Version
[3] Mark 4:19 “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”
[4] Arnold, Johann Christoph; “Cries of the Heart,” Plough Publishing, NY, USA.
[5] Matthew 11:28-30
[6] Psalm 46:10
[8] Isaiah 40:29-31
[9] Isaiah 30:15 “For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.”
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