The Good Part

As you can see from this blog, I enjoy writing. I also feel led by God to write this blog, so hopefully, it’s something that I do fairly well. Over the years, one of the things I’ve learned is that it’s so easy to put off writing time in order to do something more “urgent”.

The fact is, some of those “urgent” things are really trivial in the great scheme of things. Many years ago, NavPress released a little booklet entitled The Tyranny Of The Urgent. That describes it precisely for me. Too many times, I let these trivial urgencies get in the way of the things that I know are most important. And it’s not just writing that gets postponed. The big problem is, these trivial things get in the way of my relationship with my Heavenly Father.

I know what my priorities SHOULD be. I’ve set them down in writing. They are pasted up in my home & my office. I truly believe that these priorities are right. But I’m just not sure how well I adhere to them.

Of course, on paper, God is ranked as my #1. But sometimes I feel as if I treat God more like a drive-thru window than my Redeemer & King. I drop to my knees to pray for something I need for myself, or to pray to ask for something for someone else. Or I do a quick thanks before a meal. It’s kind of like “drive-by praying”, & it disrespects my Lord.

In reality, my quiet times with Him are often hurried times before I race off to do something else. In my haste to address the “urgent”, I lose sight of the fact that I am given this precious opportunity to commune with the Creator Who calls all of the stars by name. [Isaiah 40:26]

It’s not that complicated. Sadly, it’s pretty simple. I just need to set all of the other “stuff” aside. Sounds pretty easy, but it’s anything but. Still, we need to have that goal, & we need to push forward toward it.

Think of the story of Mary & Martha. They were Lazarus’ sisters, & they were really excited when Jesus came to Bethany to visit with them. “Mary…was listening to the Lord’s word, seated at His feet. Martha was distracted with all of her preparations; and she came up to Him, and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” [Luke 10:39-42]

So I’m going to make that my goal -- to choose the good part, the necessary things, instead of being worried & bothered about many things. I know there will be times that I’ll fail. But it’s worth taking a really good try!

“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” [Micah 6:8]