Choosing the Good Part

When I fall behind on my agenda, I get hard on myself.

I get anxious and stress out a little, and that’s exactly what happened earlier this week. I came home from work with my mind running. I got more anxious by the minute. I tried to distract myself by cleaning the kitchen (which I usually find calming – I know, kind of weird!). But as I cleaned, trying to get away from my anxious “busy” mind, I realized more and more what I truly needed.

It was simple.

Jesus.

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I didn’t need to follow my agenda. I didn’t need to clean the kitchen. I didn’t need to get away from my busy mind. All I needed and need… is Jesus. 

I know we KNOW this, but sometimes, we need a friendly reminder to chill out and actually go to Jesus. To go to our inner rooms and close the door. To pray to our Father who sees in secret (Matthew 6:6). 

To slip away (as Jesus so often did).

To turn your eyes upon Jesus…

You know that hymn, right?

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That’s what we need when we encounter anxiety, fear, worry, “busy” or full minds… We need to turn our eyes upon Jesus.

To look full in His wonderful face… And stop what we’re doing; take a deep breath, pause, and rest in Him. Look at Him. Spend time with Him. In prayer or even silence. When we look in His wonderful face, we experience the warmth of His countenance shining on ours. We find peace, joy, love, comfort… the very things we were distracted from.

God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah. Psalm 67:1.

Days go by and we continue making plans, which isn’t a hurtful thing. But leave Jesus out of it and watch the anxiety kick in. Like I did, I let my mind get cluttered, which then covered the most important part of my life, the One whose ways and plans are higher than mine. 

But when you turn to Jesus…

(And) the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

Our agendas reflect His. Our full minds get clear – like when the morning fog lifts as the sun shines brighter. We see what’s important again. We do what’s important again. 

We remember our purpose… and we keep on living it out.

For You light my lamp; The Lord my God illumines my darkness. Psalm 18:28.

I went into my inner room and turned to Jesus, to His word. Picking up where I left off just in time to see the passage about Mary and Martha, and all I heard was “Tanya, Tanya…

You’re worried.

You’re bothered about so many things.

You forgot about the One that is most important.

He is the good part.

He lightens our burdens.

Sit at His feet and listen.

Let His word convict, assure, and comfort you.

Let it steady your soul and remind you what’s fleeting, and what’s eternal.

Choose the good part, which can’t be taken away from you.

Look at Jesus.

Listen.”

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“Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42.

Notice how He didn’t list out the worries, or the many things she was bothered by? Because only one thing is necessary. Only one thing can scatter the many worries and things we’re bothered by.

It’s simple.

Jesus.

Listen, sit down, and choose the good part.

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