This weekend my husband and I attended the Pastors, Ministers and Wives retreat for our church and during the wives' session the question was presented to us along the lines of sitting at the feet of Jesus. I think it was more like "Are you resting at the feet of Jesus?" The question has been asked of me not just once before but more than a few times over the course of the last two years. And for the past few years, I've been struggling to truly rest at Jesus' feet and to truly give him all of my doubts, concerns, worries, fears and desires(one of which was to start this blog. Go figure!! I've been wrestling with it since before my daughters birth who will be four in December)
The story in Luke 10:38-42 goes like this Jesus is traveling with his disciples and they are headed to Martha's house. Upon their arrival her sister Mary is there also, but she's sitting at Jesus's feet, intentionally listening to what he had to say(yes this is the same Mary and Martha whose brother had died and Jesus raised from the dead). I wonder what He could have been telling her to have her sit so still. He could have been talking about his love for her and how he was about to die for her sins. He could have been telling her about the year 2016 and how this thing called the internet was going to take over and then about the social media buzz. He could have been telling her about how the story of just her sitting at his feet listening to him was going to move women(and men) to realize that there are going to be times where you're going to just have to sit at my feet. All we know today is that Mary forgot about everyone and anything around her to listen to her Lord. Now here comes Martha! She's scrambling and running around trying to finish what she needed to do. Wonder if Martha was like that all the time, trying to get things together, planning and organizing, running all around town. She forgot to get the sugar, gotta run to the neighbors, then she needed butter, gotta run back over to the neighbors. She's thinking to herself with a cluttered mind, "Need to finish the bread, set the table, got the lemons for the lemonade, 1,2,3, okay 12 disciples, one Jesus, Mary and myself"(counting in her head the number of people she needs to serve). Once she's back in the house, she still sees Mary through her own eyes just sitting. "All this work that needs to be done and this girl is still sitting! "Lord!" she asked Jesus, do you not care that I'm up slaving and running around here like a chicken with no head, trying to prepare a meal for you? Tell her to help me", she demands. Before we move on, do you see how she talks to the Lord? She demands that he tell Mary to get up and do the work that needed to be done. He could have turned around and said "Girl, do you know who you're talking to like that?" That would have put her in her place. But no, the Bible says he said "Martha, Martha(He probably had to say her name twice because her attention was focused elsewhere), "You are worried and distracted by many things. One thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part. I'm not going to take that away from her." The Lord is trying to tell Martha, you really need to be doing what Mary is doing. She's "resting" at my feet and listening to what I have to say, this is some important information that you my dear will want to know also. After reading this over and over, I realized that I was not Mary but I was Martha. I had gotten so busy with life(i.e.. myself, my husband, my children, the church, special occasions within the church, my job, hanging out with family and friends, I could go on) that I had forgotten even what it means to sit and talk quietly with the Lord. So, here I am now asking "Please Lord, forgive me for not resting in you. Help me to slow down and reconnect with you." Mary wasn't the only one who knew that sitting down at Jesus' feet was necessary. Remember the story of the man with the demons? Luke 8:25 says that after the Lord cast the demons out of the man, HE SAT AT JESUS' FEET! He knew what was up! He knew that he needed to stay as close to Jesus as he could. Mary knew that she needed at that time to be as close to Jesus as she could. She knew that the words coming out of Jesus' mouth were going to be useful for her. She knew that just by sitting next to him she was going to be at peace. This is something that I'm learning also, Jessi Girl, you need to stay as close to Jesus as you can darlin'!! I need to ask God to remove these demons that come in and take control over me. You may ask, "What demons do you have Jessica?? Someone as sweet and kind and loving as you(shall I go on ... naw I think I will stop right there) , you can't possibly have any demons! Girl bye!!! I have several and let me name them guilt, doubt, insecurity, failure, Ms. Attitude and yes the list could go on. I've decided to be intentional in sitting at the feet of Jesus, indulging myself in his word (not just reading the story in the Our Daily Bread book but reading the scripture, then using the reference guide in my Bible to cross reference those scriptures), I'm listening to more worship music to help soothe my quiet time (feel free to sing along with the song and don't worry if you start crying). Another thing that I've decided to do is to turn off my t.v. ( oh, you want to see a couch potato? Look no further. Don't let the wedding of DeWayne and Whitley be airing, give me a bowl of cereal, my blanket, because I'm not getting up for the next hour you can guarantee that). Wondering why you haven't seen me on Facebook lately? This is why! I was getting caught up in the lives of others instead of getting caught up in the life Jesus had designed for me. Please don't knock me down; I never said that there was anything wrong with Facebook. I had become with one with the problem and needed my own intervention. Jesus was asking me to come sit with him and I would be sitting there on the couch but instead of having my face looking down in his word, i was scrolling on my timeline. Daily life was pushing me further and further away from my daily quiet time with the Lord. Don't think that I've perfected this, because nope I haven't this the beginning of a big work project in progress. I ask that you keep me in prayer as I'm intentionally seeking the Lord for his wisdom and guidance over my life as his daughter, his princess, as a wife, as a mom, as a daughter, as a sister, as a granddaugther, a neiece, an aunt, a cousin, a girlfriend, an employee, a ministers wife, a church member, and now as a blog writer, and whoever else God has designed me to be in the future. Until next time my love, Smooches JessiGirl
2 Comments
Firm Beliver
10/31/2016 07:20:30 pm
Hey Jessica, from one believer to another thank you so much for sharing your testimony. Please continue to let the Lord use you and your gifts for His glory. Be blessed!
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Shaylaboo
10/31/2016 07:23:26 pm
So proud of you! ❤️
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Jessica ReneeHey gals (and guys)!! I'm Jessica, but my friends call me Jess. I'm a believer of Jesus Christ, the one who was born of a virgin, was beaten and bruised for my sins and then on one bright sunny Sunday(those are my favorite days), He rose from the dead for my sins. I'm a wife to this loving, caring and extra silly guy named Cornelius and the mom to Cornelius and lil miss Elsie & lady Priscilla. I hope and pray that this blog will encourage you as you "intentionally" seek Jesus Christ to be the head of your life. So grab your laptop(iPad, phone, etc.), a cup of coffee(or tea) your favorite blanket curl up on the couch and let's chat, cause girl I have some stories to share with you!!! Archives
April 2020
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