Devotionals for the Heart: Lessons on making room for God in your life

Why We Need to Let God Be First
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”–Luke 10:41-42 (NLT)

If you are anything like me, you are a busy person.

You might feel like there are not enough hours in a day to complete all of the tasks that are on your plate. If it’s not managing your own schedule, it’s keeping up with the activities and events for the kids, or maybe even working around the schedule of your spouse. Regardless, there always seems to be details that must be coordinated and then executed. Getting things done is very important, especially if there are people who are counting on you.

I would imagine that Martha felt overwhelmed when she found out that Jesus Christ would be passing through the neighborhood and stopping by her home. She was frantically trying to prepare a meal because she also knew that Jesus was not traveling alone. He usually had his disciples with Him, and let’s face it: feeding a group of hungry men was not the easiest task.

Martha’s sister Mary, on the other hand, was not at all concerned with preparing the meal. Those details did not seem to faze her at all. In fact, when Jesus arrived, she made herself comfortable at His feet, absorbing all of His teachings.

It’s no wonder Martha became visibly irritated with her sister. Martha was doing all of the work, getting things done, while her sister was sitting down comfortably, not even lifting a finger. Martha tried to plead her case to Jesus, hoping that He would instruct Mary to help out Martha with all of the work. Instead, Jesus did the opposite. He politely chastised Martha for being so anxious about the tasks at hand, and He applauded Mary for choosing the one thing that really mattered: sitting at His feet and spending time with her Savior.

When I think about this story in Luke 10, I tend to judge Martha for not sitting down to take a break. I mean, who wouldn’t want to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from Him? But then I put myself in her shoes for a moment, and I think about all of the work she had to do, especially with all of the people who were coming to her house. Then I start to judge Mary. How could anyone be so inconsiderate and just sit there while your sister is doing all of the work?

Martha is not at fault for wanting to care for the people coming to her home. Someone had to step up and do the preparation to feed everyone. Her hospitality is noteworthy. However, there is nothing more important, fulfilling, and life-changing than being in the presence of Jesus.

We need to be a Martha to accomplish our tasks, but in order to properly care for ourselves, we must be a Mary. If we want to grow closer to Him, we must willingly and intentionally draw closer to Him. We should make every effort to engross ourselves in His teachings and spend adequate time with Him. It is there that we experience His great love for us.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, Help us to realize that there is no better place to be than in Your presence. May we take ample time each day to spend it with You. Fill us with Your Spirit, Lord, and equip us with what we need to live a life that is pleasing to You. In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Make Room” (song) by Jonathan McReynolds. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn (New York) and raised in New Jersey. 

She started writing at an early age and realized in elementary school that it was both a strength and a passion. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled Just When I Thought I Knew God, and she is currently working on another devotional book that will be introduced in 2023.

This is Angela's third year as a devotional writer for Alexis A. Goring’s “God is Love” blog. In 2021, Angela was a winner of a devotional writing contest where the entry is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book is titled, Hope When Your Heart is Heavy. The following year, another one of Angela’s devotionals was published in another publication from Proverbs 31 Ministries, called Living Unbroken.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing and speaking.

Angela is a Mom Life Coach. She empowers mothers who want to identify their God-given purpose and live it fully while taking care of their family. Angela develops mothers into mompreneurs by providing them with the necessary tools to be successful and fulfilled in life. These tools equip them to see their value, understand their importance, and reclaim their identity.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson for 18 years. Together they have two sons: Thomas (age 10) and Ryan (age 5). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling.

She treasures spending quality time with her family.

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Connect with Angela:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/
Facebook (personal): https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook (Author page): https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Angela offers free consultations for mothers who want to pursue their dream while taking care of their family. Schedule here: www.ChatWithCoachAngela.com