by Sis. Shauna Millikin
..One thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Luke 10 : 42
The definition of “Busy” is: Actively and attentively engaged in work and responsibilities. Full and occupied with activities.
Being busy is not a bad thing. Busy is a part of life. The challenge can be balancing all of our busyness. Whether you are a young girl living at home, trying to keep up with school and chores, a single woman going to college, perhaps your juggling work as you forward your education, or maybe you are a young wife with household responsibilities, a mother striving to raise your children to the very best of your ability, or a Grandmother who now finds yourself raising your grandchildren. Perhaps you are a minister’s wife, like me…you love God, love your husband, love your children, love the people you minister to, but you find yourself repeatedly overwhelmed with the cares of life.
The greatest privilege for women is motherhood, but with this honor comes the greatest responsibility. There are mounds of laundry to do, crying children, meals to prepare, dentists and doctor appointments, and the list goes on and on. All of a sudden, busy doesn't even begin to describe us! We go to the thesaurus to find an adjective that better describes us as “buried, swamped, overwhelmed.” Jesus knew what it was like to be busy and have demands on His time to the place that He knew no leisure so much as to eat. (Mark. 5:31) He often retreated to a solitary place to spend time with His heavenly Father to gain strength and power.
Mary and Martha had the amazing privilege of having Jesus and several of His disciples in their home for dinner. I can only imagine the pressure of shopping and gathering the food and then the preparation of the meal. This pressure led to Martha’s meltdown. Luke 10:40 reads “But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her, therefore, help me. V.41 And Jesus answered and said unto her Martha, Martha thou art careful and troubled about many things: V.42 But one thing is needful: and
Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Jesus said one thing is needful. Women and mothers have many needs - our own personal needs as well as the needs of our family. But we must remember our greatest need is to place ourselves in God’s presence and in His Holy Word. How do we balance our busy lives with Jesus words? Do we neglect our duties and responsibilities as women to spend all day with Jesus with no housework done, husband and children neglected, months and grades behind in homeschool and kids cannot read or write? Absolutely not! There is a balance we must find and a choice we must make. I see so many good qualities in both Mary and Martha that I want to imitate. I want to work and serve like Martha, but to also take the time to worship like Mary.
Jesus said, Mary hath chosen that good part. Look, there is a choice to be made. We have to choose to spend time drawing strength from the Source of Strength. Jesus said she chose something very good that would not be taken from her. I am a very busy wife and mother, with two children that I homeschool, and revival services to prepare for most nights of the week. I too have found myself searching for the right balance in my own life. I have found one thing that has made a world of difference for me and I want to share it with you. Psalm 63:1 reads “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee.” Time spent with God is a part of our lives that we cannot allow to be taken away from us. We must guard this time. For me, that usually means getting up early before my children wake up. Making the choice to do this faithfully, provides me with the inner strength I need to face the day and all the challenges that are sure to present themselves. Sitting at the feet of Jesus like Mary keeps me from having meltdowns like Martha!
Let me end by recommending Streams In The Desert, an incredible daily devotional, which you can find in book form or an app on your phone. I have also developed a habit of reading a chapter in Proverbs every day. It is amazing the practical wisdom found in the Proverbs that can be used in our everyday life. There is no better counsel than the Word of God, and we must never allow ourselves to become too busy to spend time reading, studying, and praying over the Scriptures. We Holiness Ladies have many worries, burdens, questions… and cares. But I have found, if we take care of what matters to God, He will take care of what matters to us.
A great preacher was once asked, “How do you have time to prepare your sermons, visit your flock, spend time with your family and have prayer time?” He hesitated briefly, then said, “I don’t have the time, I take the time!” Take the time, my friend, to be restored, rejuvenated and revived in Jesus.
Blessings,
Shauna Millikin
