October 17th, 2009 by Kristi Stephens
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I don’t think I’ve mentioned on the blog that this fall I am co-leading Barbara Mouser’s fabulous study Five Aspects of Woman. This study honestly changed my life the first time through, and now I feel doubly blessed to be co-leading it with the wonderful woman of God who taught me the first time.
So, from time to time over the next few months I might share a tidbit or two of what is rolling around in my mind.
Today was our third week of discussing woman’s role as the “mistress of her domain.” In other words, God has entrusted us with various areas (domains) over which we have real authority and responsibility to rule and make productive for the glory of God. While many of our domains are obvious and physical, much of our domain is intangible, but critical to a godly life.
For instance, my domain includes things like making and sticking to a budget, keeping up with my pile of laundry, disciplining my children, planning the menu, weeding my garden, and writing this blog! My domain also includes much more challenging aspects to manage such as keeping a priority in my walk with God, guarding my thoughts and attitudes, controlling my tongue, managing the use of my time, etc.
I don’t know about you, but I find the physical domains of my life to be consuming and demanding. No matter how many times I pick up these toys, do mountains of laundry, clear the kitchen counters, deal with my children’s attitudes, and find missing shoes… there is always more to do. Always. Somehow I also add in time on this blog, and twitter, and facebook; so often I find my priorities out of whack and I identify all too well with Sarah Mae’s struggle she shared today.
Often my lack of priorities can come across as being “on the ball.” Outwardly, in those “tangible domains,” I might have my ducks in a row. People might be impressed by my tidy house or my well-planned meals or whatever. Inwardly, however, I might be a mess. Inwardly I might be making idols out of my clean house or other people’s opinions.
In Luke 10:38-42 we find two women. One is ruling those tangible domains at the expense of the intangible, and the other understands the secret of resting at the Lord’s feet. Poor Martha, I’m going to use her as an example again. She and Peter never catch a break, do they? :)
Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.
She had a sister called Mary, who moreover was listening to the Lord’s word, seated at His feet.
But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”
But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” [NASB]
How often God calls this verse to my mind.
Kristi, Kristi, you are worried and bothered about so many things. Only a few things are necessary – really only one.
The sky will not fall down if my laundry isn’t done.
The world will not stop spinning if I don’t post something on my blog.
My husband wouldn’t even mind if we had hot dogs for dinner instead of roast.
Very few things deserve to stay near the top of the priority list. Actually, only one thing is truly necessary – am I keeping my walk with Christ my first and foremost priority? This is the area that so many of us (myself included) can quickly let fall down to the bottom of the list. It doesn’t seem that essential. No one notices if we skip it. Besides, Martha wants us to help her in the kitchen – we’re having Jesus over for dinner!! We become distracted by all our preparations.
But when I carve out that time to sit at his feet, when I pull my cold bones out of bed to have a cup of coffee with my Lord, when I take care of the one thing that is really needed, the urgency of those other demands fade into the background. I can listen to His gentle voice and hear, “do this, not that. Relax. Breathe. Be still and know.” After a while, His still small voice drowns out the voices of those around me who are so eager to tell me what I ought and ought not do. I think He’d rather have hot dogs for dinner and have me stop to listen with an open heart.
The laundry piles and making dinner are important. Reading to my kids is important. My ministry commitments are important. Ruling that tangible domain is a responsibility I have been given by God.
But ruling my intangible domain in a godly way allows me to rest at the feet of Christ, even while subduing the laundry piles and making dinner. It is the better part – it is the only thing that is really necessary, after all.
This post is linked up to “Come Shoot the Breeze with Me” over at my friend Amber’s blog, A Classic Housewife in a Modern World.
