15 Minutes in the Word

flourishing in Your Prayer Life By Dorie Etrheim

minutes in the WORD

My thoughts were racing, thinking about all I had to accomplish. Would I get it all done? I sat down with the Lord to read the Scriptures, and my mind wandered to the stacks of laundry. My multitasking was spilling over into my quiet time. As I finished praying, it was as if I left Jesus in the chair and said to Him, “I’ll see you later.”

What happens to your prayer life during a busy season when life feels overwhelming? Read Philippians 4:4-7. (Re-read it again in the Amplified translation, if available.) What stands out to you?

There is no place for “anxiety” in the presence of Jesus. What are we to do?

What is the result? Martha loved the Lord and she wanted to serve Him well. She thought she had no time to sit and listen to the Lord if she were to complete all her preparations. But Mary stopped her work to sit and listen to Jesus. Can you feel the tension? You and I have the same choice. Will you choose to sit at the Lord's feet, still your heart, focus on His presence, and listen for His whispers of love and truth?

Digging Deeper

“Martha, Martha,” indicates a loving, tender, emotionfilled reply to Martha: an invitation to step away from all the preparations and sit and listen to Jesus. “Listen to” means not just to hear, but also to pay close attention to and listen with a heart to obey.

Prayer is our invitation to a deeper trust and dependence on Jesus. We are in Christ, who is allsufficient for all our needs (Phil. 4:19). We are sealed with the Holy Spirit who accompanies us in our prayers (Rom. 8:26-27). Jesus understands our weakness (Heb. 4:1416). He invites us to stay in close communion with Him through prayer.

We have front row seats to talk and listen to the allpowerful, all-knowing, almighty God who spoke the world into existence. Jesus shares a great model for prayer with us in Matt. 6:9-13, the Lord’s Prayer. What is He inviting you to? What would you say to Him if you and He were sitting in the chair across from you now? What would He say to you?

Jesus is our Prince of Peace. He sees us, knows us, hears us, loves us, and He lives to intercede for us (Heb. 7:25).

To flourish in prayer, we not only take all our cares to Jesus, but we must also sit at His feet and listen to Him. We need both.

Martha and Mary are preparing to celebrate Jesus. Read Luke 10:38-42. Note where Mary is and what she is doing.

How is Martha described?

For Your Journal

Write out Phil. 4:4-7 in your journal. Notice what words stand out to you. Journal what you sense Jesus is saying to you and write a prayer of thanks to Him. Enjoy His presence.