In a culture that glorifies hustling and working hard, our emotions are often on the back burner. How many of you have ever been in a culture where you felt your success was based upon your performance? Even within the church, we have gotten so caught up in new programs, numbers, marketing, and made a movement out of losing sleep for the sake of the “movement” — but if we have a movement of people who are exhausted, burnt-out, and have no time to invest into their own emotional and spiritual health, what’s it all unto? We can say it’s for Jesus all day long, but is it? Or is it for our achievement? Is it for the people or is it just fulfilling a need in us to do more? We’ve become addicted to the busyness that we have convinced ourselves that people who rest are lazy. But can I remind you of the story of mary and Martha? Martha was so busy trying to be the best host she missed the entire point. She missed what was right in front of her, Jesus Himself. Whereas Mary wasted all that she had at the feet of Jesus. And who was the real winner of the story? Mary.
Luke 10:41 – 42: “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Mary chose what couldn’t be taken away.
So let me ask you this, how are you doing at stewarding what matters most in your life? Your spiritual life? Your emotions? Only you can protect that. Culture is filled with Martha’s. The pressure to do more isn’t going away anytime soon. But you get to choose whether you want to get caught up in the hustle or slow down enough to enjoy life. To make memories with your family, to sit around the dinner table with friends and make time for friendships, to make time for the Lord.
These are the things that create a beautiful life worth living. Success is fine. Making money is fine. The platform is fine. But as soon as it begins to take a toll on your emotional and spiritual health, it’s time to take a step back and get alone with God.
When we work from a place of overflow, we will get way more done in a much shorter amount of time. God wants to partner with you in everything you do. We live from rest, he calls us into rest because he knows we will get burnt out trying to do it on our own. He wants to help you, lead you, and bring an abundance to your life.
So are you a Martha, or a mary? Are you feeling the pressure to do more, or are you hungry to sit at the feet of Jesus? Let’s fight to protect our rest. Let’s fight to be leaders who lead from overflow.
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