Before I get into my thoughts today, I’d like to recommend a Podcast that I’ve begun listening to: Magnify. The first episode I heard was published March 5^th and is titled, “Placing Christ at the Center of Our Lives with Cristi Brazao.” It got me thinking about my daily perspective. How we choose to see things, determines how we think about what is happening in our lives and influences what we choose to do.

Over my many years of church activity I’ve heard talks about, lessons on, and participated in many discussions regarding the story of Martha, Mary and Jesus Christ. (See Luke 10:38-41) It is a short account of Christ’s visit to Lazarus, Martha and Mary with his disciples. Christ starts teaching, and Mary comes in to sit and listen to his teachings.

I admire the choice Mary made to listen to Christ. But, and this is hard for me to admit, I am definitely a Martha. I plan. I make lists. I have goals and a path laid out to reach those goals. I’m not the most flexible person when there is a change of plans. If there are guests at my home, I am all about making them comfortable and not always able to relax and enjoy the conversation because, like Martha, I am “…cumbered about much serving…”

So what does this have to do with keeping Jesus Christ at the center of my daily life?  I can become a slave to my to-do list:  So much to do! So little time! There are great items at the top of my to-do list, activities that are important to my spiritual journey.  The first few items are intended to help me start the day focused on the Lord: read and study my scriptures, pray, and spend time listening for the Lord’s direction. The direction I receive is added to the top of the list. But my day can change in a single phone call or moment. While my priority is to serve the Lord, it is not something that always comes easily.

For example, I’m trying to get the dozens of gardens on the property cleaned so it is presentable to potential buyers. (Our property is for sale.) Time and weather affect when I can do this and how much time I can spend on it. My stamina isn’t what it used to be either so there is a limited amount of time I can work on the gardens. I check the weather the night before and plan the remainder of my day accordingly.

Yet the direction I receive in the morning or during the day will take me away from the property and the to-do list. We love getting rain here in Central Texas, but it seems too many of the days that I can actually stay home to work on the clean-up have recently been rainy days. The weeds have gotten way ahead of me. I can get frustrated that “my stuff” is not getting done. My thoughts run along these lines: “How am I ever going to get this done? The weeds are getting way out of control. I’ve still got a million other things to do today, too. And there’s no time tomorrow!” I can quickly talk myself into a dark mood and mindset with this thinking.

The podcast episode I recommended at the beginning of this post talks about how our thinking, how we choose to view what is going on in our lives, can either keep us connected to the Lord or focused on worldly concerns. Although I start the morning with scriptures and prayers, it is easy to get caught up in the more worldly concerns.

I am reminded of the story of the loaves and the fishes. The Lord knows our needs. He knows our challenges. He knows our struggles. And most importantly, He knows our hearts. He also knows the very best path for us each and every day. And He has a plan for us far better than we can imagine. If we give him our loaf and fish (our will and our abilities), what little we have to offer Him, He will multiply it. My faith, testimony and growth will be far greater. 

He has proven this to me each day I follow His direction. The weeds may be growing like crazy, but I have not felt so connected to Him and blessed as I have as I follow the promptings He gives me. Every time, every time I follow the Lord’s direction, I am blessed far more than whatever sacrifice I’ve made of time or of my to-do list. (See Mosiah 2:21-22)

If we can remember what the Lord has done for us, if we can feel to sing His praises each day, we can have Him at the center of our daily lives.

Wishing you peach in Christ,

Audrey