Only One thing

⁴¹"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴²but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Luke 10:41-42

So often my struggle comes down to worrying about my schedule, activities, organization, etc. I come back to my room, and the first thing I feel like I must do is checking my email, or making sure everything is in it's place before I can start the homework or studying that "needs" to be done. While I believe God does call us to do homework (being students is a large part of the why we are at St. Olaf and how he is teaching and using us, but not all of it), so often I neglect to take even a simple minute or two to gain focus and ask God for wisdom, for patience, for peace.

What if I focused on a small portion of God's word, spoke to Him and recognized his presence before I sat down to tackle the work in front of me? Perhaps I wouldn't be continually anxious about the next thing, be planning for the next activity, or be doubting/questioning God, but I would be slowing learning to recognize that God is here WITH me in the work I must complete.

I believe Martha had good intentions in her busying, worrying and work (to please Jesus, ultimately), but it was his love that allowed her to return to her work her of worry and striving. Ultimately, a meal still would have been made, but she would have been filled with a new understanding and God's love and peace.

Lately, this verse has encouraged me a lot: ^6-7Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (Phil. 4:6-7, The Message)