Devotionals for the Heart: How to Find Rest in the Presence of Christ

Find Rest in the Presence of Jesus Christ
A devotional by Sarah Cole

“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 (NIV)

Do you ever wake up desperate to step off life's merry-go-round and just be?

I certainly do. I’ve noticed that when I buy the lie that my accomplishments define me, the pressure to “be somebody” keeps me on a constant treadmill, and I lose touch with my God-given identity.

Busyness isn't just a modern epidemic. It dates back to the time when the Bible was originally written. In the Bible verse above, we see a stark contrast between Mary and Martha's approaches to Jesus Christ’s visit to their home. Martha wanted to be the perfect hostess. But her anxious and distracted mind drove her to exhaustion and frustration. Meanwhile, Mary took the time to sit at the feet of Jesus and rest in His presence.

I'll be the first to admit that, like Martha, I've allowed my “to-do list” to be in the driver's seat. If I'm not always accomplishing something, I get restless and bored, like an addict seeking a fix. But when I'm distracted, I miss out on the blessings of an intimate relationship with Jesus.

Does this ring a bell?

The truth is that no amount of success compares to the peace and fulfillment we find in Christ’s presence. The job description He gives us is less about keeping up with life's demands and more about developing a godly character so we change the world around us. And when we realize that Jesus settled our worth at the cross, we can finally stop striving to achieve it. By dying for our sins, Jesus showed us how valuable we are to Him (John 3:16-17).

At the end of our lives, people will remember us not for our resumes but by how we've lived for Christ. Saint Augustine said, "You (God) have made us for yourself, Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You." When we embrace our identity as dearly loved children of God, we can stop trying to prove ourselves because Jesus proved we're enough by saving us. The older I get, the more I want people to remember me as a woman who spent time with Jesus because the more time I spend with Him, the more I develop His compassion for people around me.

Sweet friend, if you yearn to escape the rat race, why not take out your calendar, set up a recurring appointment with Jesus, and then notice what happens to your stress level. You can't avoid life's distractions altogether, but you can keep them from pulling you away from His presence where you'll find true rest.

Let's Pray: Dear Jesus, thank You for loving me for me, not for my accomplishments. Thank You for what You accomplished by dying for my sins. When life's distractions threaten to steal my devotion to You, draw me into Your presence where your love breathes life into my soul. Help me to be still, know that You are God, and find rest in You. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest)” by Kari Jobe. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Sarah Cole’s interest in writing began in grade school when her poem was published in the local paper. Since then, she has written for her college newspaper and two community newspapers where she wrote restaurant reviews and articles for their ‘best of’ spread.

Her experience as an administrator in the marketing field gave her the opportunity to write ads for a local business journal.

After a 20-year detour and a three-year season of adversity, God reignited her passion to write. Two divine appointments later, the short story she wrote about her father appeared in the St. Paul Almanac, and a short story about her cocker spaniel Gigi was published in Guideposts’ Mysterious Ways. She believes her adversity was worth the lessons God taught her.

Sarah's devotionals have been published in David C. Cook’s The Quiet Hour and Devotions, The Secret Place by Judson Press, and Pray a Word a Day by Guideposts. Her short story will be featured in an upcoming book, Too Amazing For Coincidence, also to be published by Guideposts. To this day, Sarah smiles, pinches herself and gives God all the glory.

When she's not writing, she's enjoying her hobbies that include dog sitting, watching cooking shows and taking day trips.

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Connect with Sarah:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smittyc65
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@SarahCo45835279
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.cole.52

Devotionals for the Heart: When Jesus Christ is moved by our tears

Moved By Tears
A devotional by Sharon Musgrove

“Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. 

It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.”

–John 11:38 (ESV)

The story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus, as told in the book of John, chapter 11, has held me captivated. There are several stories being told within this account, each worth its own attention, yet what is highlighted for me are the movements of Jesus.

We read, early in John 11:5 that Jesus loved siblings Martha, Mary and Lazarus. This family had a strong relationship with God’s son. It is no surprise, that when Lazarus becomes deathly ill, the sisters sent word to Jesus, certain he would heal their brother.

Being wholly God, Jesus knows the outcome of this situation, saying such to his disciples, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4 ESV) His foreknowledge in God’s plan was his confidence and there was no urgency in moving quickly.

Mary and Martha had an expectation of the Lord that did not align with God’s omnipotence. Their belief was revealed in their words found later in the chapter.

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” These words were spoken by Martha in John 11:21 and Mary in John 11:32.

Isn’t that how we often feel when our life circumstances are out of our control and our vision of what God can do is small? We cannot see the future, but we can believe that we have one. Mary and Martha saw death as the end of the story, but Jesus knew more. The same is true for us today.

Jesus did show up, and in plenty of time.

His arrival came during the weeping. The text does not state that Martha wept. It does say she went to him (John 11:20) while Mary remained at home. Was Martha angry? Charging ahead with accusations? Or was it Mary who was sick of heart, not wanting to look at the one who had disappointed her?

Jesus reaches out to both. Whether we run to him in distress or postpone addressing him, our Savior comes.

“The Teacher is here and is calling you.” (John 11:28)

Mary was surrounded by consolers, according to the text (John 11:31). This Mary, who had sat intently listening at the Teacher’s feet (Luke 10:39), now heard a chorus of pity. Is it no wonder she wept when the voices closest echoed, “Could not he...”

Jesus was deeply moved. The Greek word for this feeling is “embrimaomai.” Right then his spirit became indignant (John 11:33). Jesus was accustomed to hearing doubt and accusations. Had not he just engaged Martha on the same concern? Yet here, this encounter moved him to immediate action. Death had not changed his pace, so what did?

Threat to one of the Shepherd’s sheep motivates action. It moved him to tears. “Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.” (John 11:38)

When his people cry, Jesus takes action! He protects God’s precious children from Satan’s lies. This death and resurrection precedes his own by only a handful of days. Days! I can’t help but think it quickened his pulse to know his fate looked like this, only he’d be the one stinking up the grave. If he was on the inside of the tomb, who would be on the outside moving for him?

The will of the Father.

John recounts, in chapter 6, the earlier words of Jesus, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.” (John 6:37-39 ESV)

A prayer, a cry and the man who died came out.

Friends, God hears our cries. He will always be right on time. God moves when we are threatened. And His will is that we, with Christ, are resurrected.

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Author Bio:

Sharon Musgrove is a self-proclaimed sociologist. The opportunities opened to her, over the years, have led her on a fascinating journey observing human behavior. 

She has a diverse background in business, fitness and health industries. This background led her to a unique position writing curriculum and teaching for two private, Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both recovery programs served women primarily from the homeless community.

Sharon has traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the rural Maasai communities. She's been privileged to participate in Leadership camps for maturing young women. These annual camps have a mission of encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often abused young Maasai girls.

Easily identifying personally with the brokenness of the women she's served, Sharon now sees all people as needing more encouragement regardless of cultural or socioeconomic status. Within these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its transformative power has become her passion.

In her leisure time, Sharon enjoys her garden, health food, travel and a good story. She and her husband, Jeff, make their home in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. They have two grown children. Currently, Sharon is writing her first Christian historical fiction novel utilizing her study, experience, and understanding of self-destructive behaviors.

Devotional by Laura Thomas about food, the holiday rush and Jesus

The Main Course at Christmas
A devotional by Laura Thomas

December did it again. It snuck up on us lickety-split and reminded us of ALL THE THINGS we need to do to hold this season together. The baking, shopping, planning, mailing, decorating, wrapping, caroling, and all the other “ing’s” we can possibly cram into a month. Martha herself would be proud of our lists and our plans and our grand expectations. Or would she?

The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.” ~Luke 10:41-42 (The Message)

This familiar sister story hits me between the eyes when the season of Advent rolls around. There’s Martha, the hostess-with-the-mostest, who is highly aggravated by her chilled-out sister, Mary, who seems to have all the time in the world to sit and listen to Jesus while the kettle boils and the potatoes need mashing. Most of us have both a little Martha and a little Mary in our make-up, but at Christmastime, the Martha-monster threatens to take over completely.

How messed up is that?

As we anticipate celebrating the birth of Christ, preparing our hearts can take a backseat to the frenzied festivities that vie for our attention. We primp and fuss and stress about the small stuff while “the main course” is left to go cold. That’s how The Message describes what other versions call “the good part, what is better, the good portion”, that is—Jesus time.

While Martha ran around like a headless chicken trying to make everything perfect for her Lord, Mary chose the perfect thing when she “sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said.”~(Luke 10:39, The Message)

So how about us? This is a busy time of year, for sure. Suddenly company is coming, Christmas is coming, Jesus is coming…oh yes.

Oh yes. Jesus.

We need to let our inner Mary increase, and our outer Martha decrease.

Especially at Christmas.

These wise words uttered by John the Baptist regarding the Lord Jesus, should surely be the echo of our hearts this Christmastime…and always: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 (NIV) After all, what does our festive fretting and advent anxiety achieve? Certainly not joy, probably not peace.

Less of me, more of Him. Less of stress, more of love. It’s hard to pour out when you are running on empty, and isn’t this the season of giving? His love and ours? To Him and to others?

That consuming love of God, which Mary soaked in and devoured like air, “will not be taken away from her.” Not by the guilt trip from her sister, and not by any of the following (which happens to be rather a comprehensive list):

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

This beautiful love-gift, this Jesus who saves us, this gracious love of a Heavenly Father will not be ripped from us like wrapping paper strewn and discarded on Christmas morning. It is ours to be savored.

May Jesus be our good part, Jesus be our celebration, Jesus be the very center of our Christmas. Let’s focus on the “main course” and, like Mary, cherish every moment with Him.

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Author Bio:

Laura is a published Christian author with a heart for inspiring and encouraging readers of all ages. 

She is truly multi-genre—with a published Christian teen fiction trilogy, marriage book, children’s stories, devotionals for Union Gospel Press, musings on her blog, and she now has a literary agent representing her Christian romantic suspense novel. 

Laura is English and Canadian, married to her high school sweetheart, mom of three, passionate about faith and family…and chocolate! 

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Connect with Laura:
Website - www.laurathomasauthor.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Laura-Thomas-183771121724664/?ref=hl
Twitter - https://twitter.com/laura_thomas_
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lauracthomas/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/lauracthomas/

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Note to Blog Readers from Alexis: This is Laura's last devotional for my blog. Due to her busy schedule, she can no longer commit to writing a devotional each month and publishing it here. SO please leave a kind comment for Laura below, letting her know how much you loved reading her devotionals this year! :)