I wish I were better at going with the flow and living with open hands – willing and eager to receive whatever happens to cross my path.  Unfortunately, every time we hit a bump in the road, I call it crisis-mode and come unhinged.

I’m well-aware of Jesus’ words: “In this world, you will have trouble . . .” (John 16:33).

But sure enough, trouble comes, and I get all worked up.  I wholeheartedly believe it’s up to me to fix everything that feels broken in the world around me.

I sat in the sunshine and talked about this with God today, and I asked him what he thought about it.

A verse came to mind immediately: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).

 

How to Sit at Jesus’ Feet

We all know Mary’s better choice was her decision to sit at Jesus’ feet, but what does this look like as we try to live it out in our everyday lives?

Here’s what I’m gleaning as I press close to the heart of God, study his Word, and aim to exchange Martha’s stress for Mary’s better thing:

 

1. We sit at Jesus’ feet when we ask him to guide us.

Have you ever felt entirely overwhelmed by the number of decisions you need to make each day?  I struggle with change.  It’s not so much that I don’t like variety in life.  I struggle because change forces me to make decisions.  Whether I’m buying a new vehicle, launching down a new career path, searching for a different insurance company, or rearranging furniture, I don’t love an overabundance of decisions.

Slowly, I’m learning to let Jesus help me make decisions.  Even if it’s something as small as how to rearrange a bedroom, I’m learning to lean into him and ask for wisdom.  When we ask Jesus to help us make decisions, we show him we trust him.  We live in relationship with him.  We come to know him more deeply.  This is a powerful way to sit at Jesus’ feet.

 

2. We sit at Jesus’ feet when we shift from control to stewardship.

Here’s what I mean: I can white-knuckle through my days, try to keep all my ducks in a row, and make sure no part of my life is in disarray.  Or I can remember that my life and my loved ones don’t really belong to me.  Jesus gave me my kids, my house, my job, my passions, my pets, and my relationships.  He gave me this life.  He’s not asking me to keep a tight grip on it all.  Instead, he wants me to steward these gifts.

A steward takes care of that which belongs to someone else.  When I remember that these precious children, relationships, and possessions aren’t really “mine,” I am set free.  I am set free to steward them as well as I can and leave the outcomes to Jesus.

How would your life be different if you stopped trying to control everything entrusted to you and simply aimed to steward it?

How would your life be different if you stopped trying to control everything entrusted to you and simply aimed to steward it? 

 

3. We sit at Jesus’ feet when we enjoy him.

When’s the last time you enjoyed Jesus?

Sitting in the sunshine, I put the writing work aside for a few minutes today.  I closed my eyes and asked him to pour his love over me.  Robins chattered from the poplar tree, and a hawk cried out from high above.  The moment was serene, and I fully enjoyed Jesus.

What if we learned to carry this kind of mindfulness into the stressful parts of our days?  We might learn to pause in the middle of our workdays and thank Jesus for his gifts.  We might start to see our callings as gifts and not burdens.  Make it a habit to enjoy Jesus, and you will sit at his feet while you work.