Preparation

“You cannot plan for the life God has for you, you can only prepare for it.” Erwin McManus

Here is to preparation. For the hours we spend in His presence, the times we spend listening and the chapters we read through in His word. Preparation is about character.

Yesterday, I was reading in Luke that passage where Jesus speaks to Martha:

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:38-42‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Martha was distracted. Maybe so distracted she didn’t even realize how anxious or troubled she was (she was maybe on our all-too-familiar setting of autopilot). She was planning and executing clearly. But Jesus saw her. He sees her clearly and says to her: ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things–‘

He saw her clearly and He cared. He saw her heart. But then He reminds her that it doesn’t matter what you role is, whether it’s the oldest, a mother, a wife, a host — your role and the expectation attached to it doesn’t matter. It’s not about that, but it’s about choosing the one thing that is “necessary.” Everyone needs to choose that. God has asked us to choose Him. Spending time in His presence in preparation– that is what will not be taken away. Everything else can fall apart or fade. What we guard in our hearts and minds, however, that is what cannot be taken away.

May we switch our focus from busy planning to preparation of our hearts and characters in His presence.