Practicing God’s Presence–Martha and Mary Styles

Life is a challenge. We long for peace and knowing God is helping us and is with us. But we’re so easily distracted by responsibilities, problems, and people. Sometimes we think we’ll only be at peace when we’re in a “quiet time” or some other spiritual activity. It may seem those spiritual times are the only way to sense God’s presence. Or those moments are when God is most pleased with us—when we’re doing something “super spiritual.”

But the truth is God promises to be with us every moment regardless of whether we sense him and regardless of what we’re doing. We can “practice the presence of God” whether we’re diapering our baby or driving for the carpool or leading a high-stress corporate meeting. God is with us, and everything we do in obedience to him is serving him. Not just the seemingly “spiritual” activities.

TWEET THAT!!!! We can “practice the presence of God” whether we’re diapering our baby or driving for the carpool or leading a high-stress corporate meeting. God is with us, and everything we do in obedience to him is serving him.

Yet we can still judge ourselves inadequate in the “spiritual” department if we compare ourselves to others. Some women just seem to have a natural bent toward being aware of God’s presence and easily choose to have a set-apart spiritual time. Others of us struggle. We’re too hyper. We have too much to do. We can’t concentrate. There always seems to be so many obstacles.

The sisters, Martha and Mary, who are close friends to Jesus, can relate. They seem to have opposite personalities and preferences. We can learn from them about how to incorporate spirituality with service and every aspect of life.

Martha and Mary

The Tale of the Two Sisters regarding practicing the presence of God is found in Luke 10:38-42  I thought it would be interesting to see how the Amplified Bible version tells the story.

Now while they were on their way, Jesus entered a village [called Bethany], and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was continually listening to His teaching. But Martha was very busy and distracted with all of her serving responsibilities; and she approached Him and said, “Lord, is it of no concern to You that my sister has left me to do the serving alone? Tell her to help me and do her part.” But the Lord replied to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part [that which is to her advantage], which will not be taken away from her.” (AMP)

It’s obvious the two sisters have different personalities. Although there are many different methods of describing personality/temperament types, I think the simplest is this one.

• Expressive: highly values fun, is talkative, and loves a lot of time with people.
• Driver: highly values control, likes to “tell” people what to do rather than ask questions, and believes his/her decisions are always right.
• Amiable: highly values peace at any cost, is an effective mediator, is quiet, and sees the positive in everyone and everything.
• Analytical: highly values perfection, is detail oriented and a great organizer but second-guesses decisions.

If we don’t understand God created different personalities for his purposes, we can easily:

• judge ourselves less than or the opposite, superior.
• be discontent with our own personality, because another personality seems more attractive or useful.
• intensely hate our personality’s weaknesses and think “God made junk.”
• judge another personality as inferior.

We must remember each of these temperaments have strengths and weaknesses. God intended the strengths to be used to serve him and the weaknesses to cause us to need him. We might not always appreciate God’s design, but he knew exactly his purposes in creating you.

There can be all sorts of blocks to good communication, and sometimes women have even more difficulty than men. Men, generally speaking, prefer to state the facts and not get emotionally involved. But women crave relationship, and if a friend seems to indicate the relationship is not important by not communicating, she can take offense and avoid or reject contact. Plus, each temperament communicates in a different way. Martha and Mary are definitely struggling in their relationship, and the stress of hosting Jesus, whom they want to please, creates more tension.

When Jesus said, But only one thing is necessary, one possible meaning could be: Prepare one dish instead of many. Come listen to me. TWEET THAT!!!!!

If true, he may have been suggesting her expectations are too high, and she is trying to perform for him instead of receiving his unconditional love. Of course, we are going to serve Jesus out of love for him, but maybe her motives included believing if she didn’t perform he wouldn’t love her. Or maybe she wants to look like a good hostess before others. Those impure motives are what feed anger, discontent, and contentiousness. Obviously, her priorities are out of kilter.

We can do the same thing if we believe service always equals or communicates love. Whether for God or for others, we must know what the other person values. Jesus values her presence more than lots to eat.

In their culture, women were only servants. They weren’t supposed to be with the men at all. But Jesus upset the cultural norms over and over again, valuing women just as much as men.

How we hear God’s voice in our hearts can indicate a lot. Maybe we were scolded more than praised. Maybe we grew up thinking we didn’t deserve any praise, and we only expected to be reprimanded and not acknowledged for our efforts. Maybe currently we’re in a hurtful or damaging relationship.

You might want to “try out” different tones as you speak Jesus’ words aloud. What emotion does a soft and encouraging tone create within you? Also, try to say Jesus’ words with different words to communicate several possible meanings. Jesus is saying, Oh, sweetie, please don’t worry about making a lot. We’ll be full after one of your delicious dishes. I’d rather you chose being at my feet like your sis has. Come and join us now. I love you even if we starve in your house.

Jesus is not only a good teacher—he is an effective mentor. Stories abound in the Gospels about how he delegates responsibilities to others as a means of training and coaching them. He invites disciples and followers to stretch beyond their own skills or confidence so they depend upon his confidence and his power in them. After all, Jesus who is God incarnate and therefore has every bit of God’s nature in fullness could have provided miraculously every single time he includes others to help him. In fact, he didn’t need Martha or Mary to provide anything. He could call a five course meal into existence in a second. Maybe Mary believed that more than Martha.

Even now, he is delegating to us when he opens doors we don’t feel we have enough faith to open, or are qualified or knowledgeable enough to handle. There can be any number of blocks and obstacles whispering lies and saying the Holy Spirit can’t be strong enough in us to overcome. We can instead trust if he assigns us a task or responsibility, he empowers us to fulfill his desire. He’s not ignorant of our inadequacies and weaknesses. Instead, he has every confidence his power in us is sufficient.

How have you seen God be sufficient in your life through his indwelling power?

(This post is an excerpt from my women’s Bible study, Choices of the Heart: Daughters of the King Bible Study Series. At the close of each of the ten lessons in the Bible, I include a “Letter from God.” This is not a revelation of God. It is only ideas that I thought applied to the lesson from God’s perspective.)

My precious Princess and Daughter:

I know your life is hectic. My Son faced the human obsession of busyness when he lived on earth. I didn’t originally design life to be full of unfulfilled expectations and hurried running around. The garden of Eden’s atmosphere was peaceful beyond belief.

But now, you face this problem, my Daughter. Whether through other people’s demands or the ones you put on yourself, life seems like a treadmill run at high speed. Maybe even a rollercoaster.

I want to assure you your activity doesn’t make you look better in my eyes. I love you without question and accept you as my own, regardless of your accomplishments—or lack of them. Yes, I do have specific things for you to accomplish, but they do not make me love you more. I already love you as much as I possibly can.

Whatever the pace of your life, turn to me at any time. I am available every single moment. Call out to me and ask for my help, comfort, wisdom, or anything you need. You don’t need to have a formal quiet time to know I’m with you. I am with you constantly, and I promise never to forsake you or leave you.

Succeed in my Spirit’s power, but take time first to confirm I’ve called you to an opportunity. Fulfill my plans with a pure heart of wanting my glory. Your choices must come from your heart.

Lovingly,

Your heavenly Father, the King