Luke 10:38-42 – Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” .

THEME OF THE DAY: GETTING READY FOR BATTLE. I had to make a decision. And it was hard. My schedule was way too fulfill. My tasks needed a 36 hour day. The pressure of responsibility was heavy. The demands on my time were screaming. I simply had so much to do and felt that sickening feeling of being overwhelmed. I know you know that feeling. And in the midst of all these “voices” speaking loudly to me these words, “Let’s get going. We got to get busy”, there was a distinct, gentle, but persistent whisper saying, “What about Me? Are you going to enter into your day without time with Me?” No, I didn’t hear the audible voice of the Lord Jesus. What I did sense was the unmistakable wooing of His Spirit to not rush into my day spiritually ill-prepared for what will unfold. And the choice to “be still and know I am God” or get busy in the things of the day is an intense battle requiring spiritual maturity and spiritual resolve. The easy, fleshly, and spiritually immature choice is to say, “I will get to time with the Lord later” and rush into our day. Bad choice with bad consequences.

Friends, always remember each morning we wake-up, it is in enemy territory full of spiritual foes who are waiting to engage and defeat us in our walks with Jesus. And one of the devil’s most effective tactics against God’s people is to persuade us to enter each day without spending any time spiritually preparing for the day. Every day we wake-up and feel the stress of all we have to do, and neglect time alone with the Lord Jesus in prayer and the Word, we enter into a battle zone without our armor, without a mind ready for battle, and it won’t be long into the day, we become spiritual causalities. The evidence we are slain on the battlefield will be outbursts of anger, irritability, impatience, snappy and unkind language, worry, and a spirit of frustration when schedules are changed and things don’t go according to plan. Fail to prepare for battle each morning and by mid-morning, if that late into the day, we will be spiritual casualties slain by the fiery darts of the evil one. But there is help and that help begins with what follows . . .

In order for us to establish a regular time with the Lord to arm ourselves for the many spiritual battles we face each day, we must be convinced of its necessity. Now what I am not suggesting is we get up at 4:30 a.m. and spend two hours in prayer and the Word. Some people might be able to do that. Martin Luther was such a person, though I think he gave three hours. What I am suggesting is that some time, before we rush into our days attacking our many responsibilities, be given over to unhurried and undistracted time with the Lord in prayer and the Word. But to get there, we must see this time as an absolute necessity for our spiritual survival. Do not underestimate the intense spiritual conflict around and in us. The devil and his minions never sleep. They are always looking to slay Christians. And if we neglect the “survival gear” of time alone with Jesus to sense His Presence and hear His reminder that we live in a world of constant spiritual conflict, the spiritual consequences will be severe. Neglect the Lord and we lose spiritual-mindedness. And when spiritual-mindedness is gone, worldly-mindedness rushes in to replace it. Christians then become complacent, indifferent to spiritual things, unfaithful in spiritual things, and very soon look no different than non-Christians outwardly and inwardly. Such a backslidden condition removes our Gospel witness in our homes, churches, and communities. And it all began by our failing to see the need to start each day getting ready for spiritual battle. Think on this. If any of us are rushing into the day spiritually ill-prepared, ask the Lord to show us the danger of living this way. Then ask Him to help us change. It will be one of the most important choices we make in our lives.

PRAYER: “Father, help me to see the one thing necessary in my life is to stay as close to Your Son as possible.”

QUOTE: “The only way to cope with all our responsibilities and circumstances in life is to guard our fellowship with Jesus.”