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At His Feet: Women Who Choose the Better Thing

January 13, 2021 By Jennifer H. Yates 2 Comments

13 Jan

Do you read and study God’s Word on a daily basis? That used to be a real struggle for me, but once I began to seek regular time with the Lord, my life drastically changed. My marriage improved, my relationships grew, and I began to experience real joy and peace in my life. That’s what having a relationship with Jesus is all about.

At His Feet: Women Who Choose the Better Thing

When I first gave my life to Jesus as a college student, I would spend hours in the evenings on the floor of my room, studying the Bible, praying, and listening to Christian music. For the first time in my life, I felt as if I had real purpose and acceptance. I treasured that time I spent each evening at His feet.

Then I graduated, started teaching, and got married (all in the same year!), and life got incredibly busy. All of a sudden I had people other than Jesus who wanted my time and attention. The distractions left me anxious and upset, and my time with Jesus became less and less. I wanted to be with Him, but I struggled to find the time for Him.

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.”

Luke 10:38, NIV 84

Do you ever have really good intentions to spend time with Jesus, but then get so distracted that you can’t even hear what He’s saying? I feel for Martha. She invited the Savior to her house for a good reason: She wanted to spend time with Him, serve Him, and worship Him.

Good Intentions

But then again, hosting Jesus and the disciples would have been no small task. I don’t know how big her house was or if all her dishes were clean, but I would have a hard time feeding thirteen men at my house right now. All of a sudden, Martha’s mental state goes from seeking Jesus to seeking a plan.

Some of you are smiling right now because you can’t even count how many times your prayer list turned into a to-do list. Or how many times you planned to get up early to seek Him, but your kids decided to get up early too.

“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?'”

Luke 10:39-40

(I love this part.)

“‘Tell her to help me!'”

Luke 10:40b

Yep. That’s what happens. We end up cranky and irritable and taking it out on everyone around us. I’ve been there. The problem is that we are really upset with ourselves, because we know that deep down it’s just a matter of priorities. We all have the same twenty-four hours in a day, and we all make our own schedules.

Making Space

Granted, at different seasons of life, our days can look totally different. Parenting small children may require seeking Him in the middle of nap time. Or in the middle of the night. Caring for a sick family member may mean that our time with the Lord is at a different time every day. I’ve been there, too. But no matter the time or the season, we can choose the better thing.

“‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'”

Luke 10:41-42

The Better Thing

I love the Lord’s tender response to Martha. I can almost see Him patting the floor next to Mary, offering Martha a place at His feet. Because that is the place where, at least for a moment, schedules and baths and laundry take a brief backseat. Oh, I know they are important, but they find a way of all coming together in just the right manner at His feet.

Are you worried and upset about many things, finding yourself distracted and maybe even bitter at those who seem to have it all together? Hear the Lord’s tender invitation to you. Leave the dishes in the sink and come away with Him for a little bit. You will find yourself longing for more of Him, and that which we long for, we will find time for.

Only one thing is needed. Choose the better thing.

Want to learn how to find the time and focus to spend in the Word every day? Take our FOCUSED 15 Challenge.

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Filed Under: Bible Study, Quiet Time, Women Tagged With: At His Feet: Women Who Choose the Better Thing, Bible studies for Women, Bible study, busyness, Christian devotional, Christian devotional for women, Jennifer H Yates, Mary and Martha, one thing, priorities, quiet time, worship

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About Jennifer H Yates

About Jennifer H Yates

Hey, friends! I'm Jen--wife, mama, and empty-nester. I love to write, read, and drink coffee, especially with friends.

I've found that many women struggle to find time and focus to grow their relationship with God through studying His Word. I encourage and challenge women with practical strategies and helpful resources for quality study in as little as fifteen minutes a day.

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We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
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We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
⁠
Click link in bio to read post.⁠
⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an
"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel--the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:1-4, NIV).
All of Scripture, all of history, all of time has been about Jesus Christ, Son of God. 
Do you know Him? You can. His life, death, and resurrection are historical fact. All so that you could know Him and have eternal life.
Jesus loves you! ❤

"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee fo
"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment" (Luke 23:55-56).
Can you imagine the horror these women had witnessed? Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others had followed Jesus and helped support his ministry (Luke 8:3).
Now all their hopes had been crushed as they stood at a distance and witnessed Jesus' agonizing death on the cross (Luke 23:49). His own mother had to stand by helplessly as her son cried out, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
As we women often do, they looked for a way to still serve Him, even in His death, by preparing His body for burial. Sometimes, it's the little things.
When our hearts are breaking and we think we can't take another breath, sometimes we need something in our hands--a burial spice, a casserole, a text that says I'm here.
We can't make the hurt go away, but we can channel it into something useful, something hopeful, something comforting.
As they rested on the Sabbath, I'm sure they anticipated the opportunity to see Him one more time, to minister to Him once more with the spices and perfumes they had prepared.
Hearts crushed, hands open.
Grieved but grateful. Resting but ready.
Because if there was anything they knew for sure, it's that Jesus was no ordinary man. And when hearts are turned toward Him, anything can happen.

God never called us to “blind” faith. We may b
God never called us to “blind” faith. We may believe without seeing, but faith is being sure and certain of what we don’t see, not what we don’t know. ⁠
The Israelites had historical facts on which to base their faith. That’s why God constantly told them to remember what He had done and tell it to their children. Their faith was in what they knew to be true, even though they didn’t always see it with their own eyes. ⁠
We, too, have facts on which to base our faith. The Bible is historically accurate and verified. If ever we needed to know what we believe, it’s now.⁠
⁠
Click link in bio to read post.⁠
⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

It’s something I have a hard time doing. Like mo
It’s something I have a hard time doing. Like most women, when I do get still, my mind is still going 90 mph. I’m so distracted by all the preparations for the day. Sounds a little like Martha, who, by the way, is the one who invited Jesus over in the first place. But like Martha, I have felt the Lord’s gentle rebuke. He wants me at His feet. And really, that’s where I want to be. It’s not about time and focus. It’s about heart and desire. The rest will come. ❤️ #growingyourfaith #jesusfirst #wordbeforeworld #seekhimfirst #javawithjesus #womenintheword

Do you really want to grow your faith? What we fee
Do you really want to grow your faith? What we feed the most is what grows the most. 🍽️⁠
⁠
What are you feeding?⁠
⁠
Click the link in my bio to read this week's post.⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus ⁠


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