"A Focused Heart"

I came across a message I shared with a group of college students almost ten years ago that still speaks volumes today.  I thought it was worth sharing again.  Be blessed as you read.

(Let’s look at someone who had a heart completely devoted to God)

Luke 10:38-42 says…
“As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

“But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (NLT)

How can we have a “Mary Heart” in a “Martha World?”

1.  Quiet your Spirit

Martha was all wrapped up in doing “things.”  She was distracted and not fully focused on Jesus.

Some times we can get distracted by being “too busy” doing… attending church activities, family obligations, work functions, hobbies, etc… We may not be doing things that are necessarily bad, but we are missing the point of taking time to be with JESUS!

Mary set everything aside to give her complete attention to Jesus.  Nothing else was more important to her at that moment.  We can take a lesson from Mary.  When Jesus is there, give Him all of your attention!  Nothing else matters!

How can we have a “Mary Heart” in a “Martha World?”

2.      Be content with “Just Jesus”

Mary didn’t want to be anywhere else or with anyone else, she was content with just Jesus.

Martha thought doing something for Jesus was just as important as being with Jesus.  But she missed the boat.  Jesus was the main course and nothing else really mattered.  Their spirits needed food more than their bodies or flesh did.

Mary recognized her need for more and sat at Jesus feet.  She wanted to be as close as she could get to Him so she wouldn’t miss a thing. She soaked in His presence taking it all in, hanging on His every word.

Being content with “Just Jesus” is hard.  It’s easy when you are single because He is all you’ve got, but when you add a boyfriend or girlfriend, a spouse, and then kids, it gets even harder.  But the question you need to ask yourself is:  If everything in my life was stripped away from me, would I still be content with Just Jesus.  That is the place He wants us to live daily.

How can we have a “Mary Heart” in a “Martha World?”

3.      Throw out YOUR agenda

We all have our own idea of how we think things should go in certain situations, but we’ve got to throw our agenda out the window when it comes to being with Jesus.

Jesus just wants to be with us… what happens after that is a surprise.

Martha couldn’t let go of her preparations that in the long run wouldn’t even matter tomorrow.

Mary let everything go.  Whatever she had planned she set aside to be with Jesus.  She gave Him her complete attention and it changed her.

Sticking to “our agenda” can get in the way when it comes to our relationship with God.  If we do what we’ve always done, we will get what we’ve always gotten and no more.

BUT, if we do what we’ve never done, we are going to experience

God in ways we never have before!

How can we have a “Mary Heart” in a “Martha World?”

4.      Seize the Moment

We need to seize the moment when it comes to moments of intimacy with Jesus.  There may never be another opportunity like today to experience Jesus in this way. 

Mary took advantage of every moment she had with Jesus.  She expressed extravagant love in extravagant ways.  She wasn’t in a hurry!  She was on His schedule and stepped into His flow for her life.

John 12:3 says… “Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.” (NLT)

For a whole day I’m sure wherever she or Jesus went, people associated them together by the smell of the beautiful fragrance that was soaked into them.  What an awesome picture!  We should smell of the fragrance of Christ each time we are with Him.  Others should notice and associate us together.  They should see evidence of our time spent together shining through us without us ever saying a word.

How can we have a “Mary Heart” in a “Martha World?”  Focus your heart on what is really important.  Think about it.  What are you wasting your time on?  What is making you too busy to be with Jesus?  Seize the moments you have to be with Him.  It could change the whole course of your day and maybe even your life!

Living to leave a legacy,
Julie