Daily prayer:   Jesus, You know the very intention of all that I say and do. As Iask You to examine my heart, I lay before You the people and pursuits that drive me further away from a heart of worship. You have not removed me bodily from this world, but You have raised me up spiritually to abide in Your presence even as I carry out my daily duties. As Your presence overshadows me it is there that Your love and faithfulness sustain me and gives me a true heart of worship. Even as a vehicle needs fuel to properly function, I need prayer to uphold and equip me for the day that lies ahead. Amen.

Additional study notes:

I easily identify with Martha’s attitude in the daily Scripture portion. I spend way too much time in the “kitchen”* and am easily distracted by the stuff of life in the material, visible realm. Distractions constantly lull me away from "what is better". I imagine many of you identify with me. We generally prioritize visible accomplishments over inward attitudes of the heart. This can be seen in an obituary where titles, accomplishments, and interests of the deceased may be listed, but the person’s attitude toward life may not even be mentioned (though admittedly, some titles or accomplishments can reveal one’s attitudes during their lifetime.)

As I study this portion of Scripture I am especially intrigued with the phrase, "Mary has chosen what is better". She made a willful, purposeful choice to sit at the Lord’s feet, listening intently to His counsel, His teaching, and delighting in His friendship. She likely dealt with distractions since I can imagine Martha was clanging those pots in the kitchen just a little extra loud to get Mary’s attention as she surely muttered under her breath, “Why isn’t Mary here helping me?”.

That muttering led her to appeal to the Lord; “She came to Him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’” But Mary chose to shut her mind to the daily routine and open her heart to the rare moments that she could personally spend in Jesus’ presence.

“What is better” is sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to what He has to say. It’s focusing on the spiritual, non-visible realm. It’s like another Mary, who following the birth of her son, Jesus, “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” It includes reading, studying, meditating and memorizing the Bible along with praise, worship and prayer.  What we store up in our hearts pours out to those around us making an eternal difference. It goes beyond impressing people to inspiring them to meet Jesus on a personal level. When we spend time with our Lord we experience the fulfillment and blessing that is at the very heart of living the abundant life.

But, in full disclosure, I confess the “kitchen” continually beckons and distractions abound. I am speaking of the “kitchen” as an analogy for the things that distract and take us away from the better choice. As I ponder on this subject here are some additional considerations:

1) Certainly some may be less easily distracted than others and some more spiritually focused but I have also seen this become a dangerous source of pride.
2) Jesus is not teaching that all “kitchen work” is wrong. We really need to consider a balance in Biblical teaching and that other Scripture teaches the importance and value of work and living responsibly.
3) We need to graciously recognize we have different callings from God, and not esteem one above the other or feel that others must feel as passionately about our cause as we do. This leads to arguments, jealousy, and resentment rather than expanding the kingdom of God.
4) Some distractions are ultimately God-ordained ministry opportunities.

1) What are the many things that worry and upset us? Some of you are worried and upset about matters I can hardly imagine and vice versa. Many of the sources of our worry and upset are a result of all that we have.
2) Why are we worried and upset many things? This question gets to the heart of the matter if we quiet ourselves enough to consider it.