It’s spring which means it’s time to do some cleaning out of old things, not just your closet, but your life too, so you can stay focused on the things that really matter.
Last week I talked about letting go of old things and trying new things. You can read that post here: How To Know When It’s Time to Let Go
This week I want to talk about getting and staying focus on the important things and cleaning up your to-do list so you can in God’s rest.
I love the story of Martha and Mary, the two sisters who became friends with Jesus, because my testimony in centered in their story. Martha was busy and distracted, while Mary was focused on the one thing that was needed, and from that one thing everything else came into divine order.
“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.’ And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:37-42).
Mary discovered the way to a focused life—sitting at Jesus’ feet first.
In the midst of the busyness of life, she did not get distracted; she made time with the Lord – the one thing that is need by every one of us, her first priority. Martha, on the other hand, neglected the most important thing for the seemly urgent things. This kind of busy and distracted lifestyle creates burnout mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. I know because I’m a recovering Martha.
A Martha is a serve-aholic, a person who does a lot of busy work and as a result does not spend enough intimate time with the Lord. She is a person who does things for Jesus but doesn’t rest in Him.
Many women live like Martha.
They have a life filled with lots of activity and the busyness that comes from serving others in some capacity. Serving others is a good thing, but few dare live like Mary, at Jesus’ feet first, focusing on the things He says are important. Living this way doesn’t mean we don’t serve others, it just means we put our relationship with God first not in theory, but in reality.
Some women live like Martha because they thrive on busyness, activity, and creative energy – what some would call healthy chaos. Others are “yes” people who haven’t learned how to say “no” yet. They get asked to join a group, donate their time, be on a committee or whatever, and their answer is always yes.
The problem is they tell everybody yes and find themselves overwhelmed with more to do than they have time for. They end up without enough time to focus on the things that really matter to them.
I can identify with both because I was a little bit of each. I’m a creative person, so I have to stop myself from venturing into new “projects.” At one time I was a “yes” person until I learned how to say no.
Trying to do it all left me burnout and with no time for my relationship with God, the people and things that matter most to me — the things God wanted me to focus on. When I finally decided to get focused, I had to let some things go. What I thought I had to be a part of went on without me. In letting go, I discovered that truly only a few things are necessary.
Getting focused is not just about learning saying “no” and let go, it’s about knowing your purpose – your reason for doing and being and learning when to say “yes” and what to hold on to.
Beloved, what you are supposed to focus on this season and do what He tells you.
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