I was reading in 1 Kings yesterday and I read the story about Elijah and how he went up on a mountain to hear from God. First there was a wind that tore the mountain apart, but God was not in the wind. Then there was a fire, but God was not in the fire. Finally, Elijah heard from God in a still small voice.
Growing up in church, I have always heard that God speaks to us in a still small voice, and I believe that 100%, however, I think there are times when God is yelling at us, well maybe not yelling, because I can't really picture God yelling at me for doing something wrong, but the Bible does say that He chastises those he loves... so if He's not yelling then he might be whispering over and over again, a little louder every time until we listen. No matter how He is doing it, God will get our attention when he wants it.
The past few months, God has wanted my attention, and I have been reluctant to hear what he has to say. Now, I am not saying that I don't listen to the Lord. I do. I pray, and read my Bible, and all of that good stuff. What I am saying is that maybe I haven't heard what He wants me to hear.
Well, on two separate occasions, just since January, God's voice has come through loud and clear, in a still-small-whisper kind of way. The first time was earlier this year when I felt God telling me to let go of some things in my life that were holding me back from Him. The second time was this week, when, again, I felt like God was telling me to let go of some things that are holding me back from Him... but these things are totally different from the thing I had to give up before (could I be a little more vague? haha).
I'll just come out and say it. I have what I have dubbed a "Martha spirit." Now, what is that? In Luke 10, we read about the time that Jesus visited the home of his friends, Martha and Mary (this is the Mary that washed His feet with her tears... not His mom). Martha was is the kitchen preparing food, cleaning, doing a lot of work, and Mary just sat at the feet of Jesus the entire time, listening to him and not helping her sister. Martha got so mad because she was doing all the work by herself, and Jesus says, "Martha, Martha, 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 from her."
I have heard this passage of scripture at many a women's conferences. I am not saying that I do too much housework... that would be a lie. I don't do enough, I let Rebekah do the dishes, and well, I just don't make my bed every morning. What I am saying is that I am guilty of putting too much emphasis on the "works" I am doing rather than my personal relationship with the Savior. It's like I've been keeping a checklist of all the things that I have done: teach Sunday School, sing in the choir, go on a mission trip, clean the church, lead the youth group, blah blah blah. There is nothing wrong with doing these things, I know the Lord is pleased with me doing these things. However, He said that Mary chose what was better.
I'm not going to dump all of my responsibilities, that would be wrong. But I want my relationship with the Lord to be based on intimacy with Him, not all the things that I can do for Him. Those things I do for myself, yeah I do them because I love the Lord, but because they make me feel good about myself too. God would love me even if I were not a Youth Leader or a piano player. I want to take every opportunity to choose what is better: time with Jesus.
Growing up in church, I have always heard that God speaks to us in a still small voice, and I believe that 100%, however, I think there are times when God is yelling at us, well maybe not yelling, because I can't really picture God yelling at me for doing something wrong, but the Bible does say that He chastises those he loves... so if He's not yelling then he might be whispering over and over again, a little louder every time until we listen. No matter how He is doing it, God will get our attention when he wants it.
The past few months, God has wanted my attention, and I have been reluctant to hear what he has to say. Now, I am not saying that I don't listen to the Lord. I do. I pray, and read my Bible, and all of that good stuff. What I am saying is that maybe I haven't heard what He wants me to hear.
Well, on two separate occasions, just since January, God's voice has come through loud and clear, in a still-small-whisper kind of way. The first time was earlier this year when I felt God telling me to let go of some things in my life that were holding me back from Him. The second time was this week, when, again, I felt like God was telling me to let go of some things that are holding me back from Him... but these things are totally different from the thing I had to give up before (could I be a little more vague? haha).
I'll just come out and say it. I have what I have dubbed a "Martha spirit." Now, what is that? In Luke 10, we read about the time that Jesus visited the home of his friends, Martha and Mary (this is the Mary that washed His feet with her tears... not His mom). Martha was is the kitchen preparing food, cleaning, doing a lot of work, and Mary just sat at the feet of Jesus the entire time, listening to him and not helping her sister. Martha got so mad because she was doing all the work by herself, and Jesus says, "Martha, Martha, 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 from her."
I have heard this passage of scripture at many a women's conferences. I am not saying that I do too much housework... that would be a lie. I don't do enough, I let Rebekah do the dishes, and well, I just don't make my bed every morning. What I am saying is that I am guilty of putting too much emphasis on the "works" I am doing rather than my personal relationship with the Savior. It's like I've been keeping a checklist of all the things that I have done: teach Sunday School, sing in the choir, go on a mission trip, clean the church, lead the youth group, blah blah blah. There is nothing wrong with doing these things, I know the Lord is pleased with me doing these things. However, He said that Mary chose what was better.
I'm not going to dump all of my responsibilities, that would be wrong. But I want my relationship with the Lord to be based on intimacy with Him, not all the things that I can do for Him. Those things I do for myself, yeah I do them because I love the Lord, but because they make me feel good about myself too. God would love me even if I were not a Youth Leader or a piano player. I want to take every opportunity to choose what is better: time with Jesus.
"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."
Psalm 27:4
Psalm 27:4
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