“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)

In my early Christian years I would always have mixed feelings about the story of Mary and Martha where Jesus was invited into their home. My emotions would be torn, one part of me wanting to stick up for Martha because I felt that she was somehow being misunderstood, and the other would be worrying that she might miss out on something important if she didn’t sit down next to her sister and listen to Jesus.

As the years rolled by though, my perspective about the situation started changing, as I began to grasp what Jesus was trying to teach Martha at that social gathering. I realized that my sympathy had been somewhat misplaced, and that Jesus in his gentle rebuke was showing her a better way. He wasn’t saying that she was wrong in wanting to tend to everything and everyone, but that there was something better for her, something way more beneficial in the long run, and Mary had chosen that option, spending time at Jesus’ feet.

But isn’t Martha’s scenario true of us even today? Especially as women, who seem to have a natural tendency to take care of everything and everyone around them all the time, sometimes whether it’s their job or not. I mean who else is going to pick up the slack right? So we jump right on in and do it ourselves. One more appointment, one more phone call, one more urgent request or deadline, as we become more and more spiritually dehydrated.

And all the while that still, small voice in our spirit is telling us to slow down, sit down, come ye apart and rest awhile; simply sit quietly in His presence and listen. Yet, how long does it take for us to do this sometimes? To finally hit the brakes and say “Okay Lord, here I come.” By the time we do come we’re on our last leg, practically running on fumes, and realizing that we simply cannot go on, finally surrendering our weary souls to Him out of desperation.

Spending time in the Lord’s presence, pouring over His Word and waiting to hear from Him, should never be just another option, or worse yet a last resort. Choosing the better part like Mary means putting aside all else to be with Jesus like she did. It means laying aside the needful for the necessary; because honestly, how can we help others and pour into their lives when we ourselves are depleted in body, mind and spirit?

On an airplane, they tell you that you always put your oxygen mask on first in the event of an emergency before you attempt to help anyone else, even if it’s your own children. That advice is so relevant as it pertains to our spiritual well being as well. We are no good to ourselves or anyone else without regular communion with the Father. It is only in Him that we find, true life, love, joy, peace and rest for our souls. When we are full, then we can in turn pour into the lives of others who may need it.

I always wondered what happened at the end of that story with Martha and her sister. Did she take offence and skulk off somewhere to the back of the house to hide in embarrassment? Or worse yet seethe with resentment towards her sister and Jesus? Or did she put her little hurt feelings aside, set her dishes down, and sit down to hear what Jesus had to say? Hopefully it was the latter. Today let us slow down and take heed to that still, small voice in our spirits telling us to lay aside that ‘one more important thing‘; and let us choose the better part, to spend time in the Lord’s presence.

“… in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11 (KJV)

 “And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while…” Mark 6:31 (KJV)

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” James 4:8 (KJV)