Today, I shopped for medications and supplies, organized items for my backpack, separated laundry for moving, and met with two supporters. Sometimes the preparations that need to be made for the World Race can seem daunting. 

In this season, where my attention falls to accomplishing tasks and making arrangements, I feel a bit like a woman named Martha. We find Martha with her own set of preparations and concerns when Jesus arrives at her village...

“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 10:38b-42 (NIV)

You see, like Martha, I often feel distracted by the preparations that need to be made. After all, being abroad for eleven months isn’t something to take lightly or to jump into willy-nilly. Often, when the details threaten to take over my attention or I’m becoming “worried and upset,” I find myself justifying the priorities I’ve chosen for the day. It’s easy to say to myself... 

“It’s ok that I didn’t spend time reading my Bible today. After all, it’s important to be faithful in completing what God has called me to do; and I’ve been preparing for the World Race today.” 

OR

“I don’t have energy to work on World Race prep and spend time with the Lord today. I only have so much energy, and I need to use it wisely. I mean, I get so tired working third shift. I can just spend time with the Lord tomorrow.”

It is true that I should be faithful in completing what God calls me to do! Indeed, this is one way that I can worship God. However, the problem comes in when I make working more important than being. Take a look again at Jesus’s words to Martha when she brought her concerns to him:

“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 10:41-42

Did you catch that? Only ONE thing is needed! And what is that one thing? Being with the Lord! 

That my friends, is an encouragement to my heart. I don’t need to be worried and upset about the plethora of To Do’s waiting to be addressed. I can focus first on being with the Lord. So when I wake up and my first thought is about packing or when I leave the house and I want to swing by a certain store for a certain item, I’ve been trying to remember that working to complete what I believe the Lord has called me to should not be my first priority. Spending time with the Lord should be my first priority. Sitting at his feet is more important than the physical preparations that I so often busy myself with!

I’d like to close with a story of one way the Lord blessed me as I’ve been learning this lesson. 

One day, I spent intentional time with the Lord before going out and about to tackle the items on my shopping list for the World Race; however, when I pulled into the store’s parking lot afterwards, I was not feeling up to the challenge. My energy level had sunk, sunk, sunk - down, down, down. So I asked the Lord, “Lord, if I could just get into the store and look for these two specific items that would be great. If you could give me energy for that I would really appreciate it.” I exited the car (YES!), made it into the store (WHEW), and realized that they were playing Christian music. In that moment, I was so encouraged! I felt seen and heard by the Lord. He heard my request, he knew exactly how I felt, and he met me there. After that, I was able to shop without being an emotional, dead-tired, zombie-person! :)

I don’t share that to imply that God will always work in that way - that in each situation he will provide the energy that I need to accomplish my tasks if I’ve already spent time reading my Bible or praying that day. That’s not what I’m trying to say. Rather I share it as an example of what the Lord is teaching me, and as an expression of thankfulness for how he has provided in the midst of the learning process.  

No matter what distractions we face, may we all “sit with Jesus” this week. For indeed, only one thing is truly needed.