During my quiet time this week, I asked myself the question:
What did you accomplish yesterday?
Seemed as though I wasted the entire day, and yet I had started my day armed and ready with a list of things I needed to accomplish. You know those days when you get interrupted at every turn. You start and stop. Someone calls. Doorbell rings; phone alerts go off; unexpected task ends up on your desk. So in my quiet time, I asked the Lord to order my day so that I did not end up with another unproductive day. But I was sidelined by a whisper in my heart, a whisper that I recognized as the voice of the Holy Spirit asking another question:
What did you accomplish yesterday? You accomplished being in the Presence of God.
Jesus often answered people’s questions with another question, so I was suspicious that this is where we were going when I then heard the following question:
What does accomplishment look like?
Sounds a bit like an encounter that Jesus had with Martha and Mary. Martha was busy preparing the meal, and Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. Martha was angry. Here is what went down.
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!”
Jesus responds:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things but few things are needed- only one. Mary has chosen what is better… (Luke 10:38-42)
Mary chose to answer the question, describing what accomplishment really looks like. It looks like spending time in the presence of Jesus. And from that place, work towards completing the list of things you need to do.
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So today I ask you a similar question:
What does accomplishment today look like for you? Are you willing to prioritize your time with Jesus over your check-things-off-list?
Accomplish is defined as “achieve or complete successfully.” If we are willing to seek Him first, then our days will shift into purposeful missions for Christ, no matter what we do or where we go.
Please join us for our book club, “Sitting at His Feet,” which begins April 2nd. You can pop in anytime as each chapter stands on its own. For those of you who do not live in the Charleston area, you can start your own group wherever you are. Click to Learn More.
Joanne
