“But really, only one thing matters. Mary has chosen that one thing, and I won’t take it away from her.”

Luke 10:42 The Voice (VOICE)

Priorities. Goals. Resolutions. These words become almost cliché at the beginning of the year. Now that the end of January is here, how are you sticking to your resolutions? We are late in the month but early in the year, and I’d like to tackle the subject of “one thing.”

I am a goal/list/to-do list nerd. I have often spoken on this topic at women’s groups and walked with others in their journey. I am passionate about this area and love planning. Sometimes, to my detriment. As the years pass though, I am finding a balance between gettin’ it done and sittin’ and enjoying. That’s why the story of Mary and Martha clicks with me. I empathize with both of these women.

If you don’t know this story, please go to Luke 10:38-42. For some of us who’ve been in church a long time, these two sisters’ stories have become almost too familiar. Yet, there is a point made by Luke in this tale that I want to zero in on and unwrap today as we face this still New Year.

Martha was the worker bee, buzzing around and gettin’ it done. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and enjoyed Him, and He praised her for it by stating that Mary chose correctly. She chose that one thing that matters. Wow. What Martha did was not wrong, especially for a woman of that time period. Yet, I surmise that these women had a choice that day (“Mary has chosen”).

I love this from Beth Moore in her book Jesus The One And Only:

“Right priorities will never choose us. They are a choice in the midst of many other good ones.” 

Back to the sisters. From what I can tell, both choices were good. Cooking and serving Jesus a meal seems like a good thing to me. Again, Mary was affirmed by the Savior.

This brings me to 2018. Good choices and opportunities often fall into our laps, and this year will be full of them. However, as we look to the weeks and months ahead, how can we make the best choices and zero in on what God may say is “that one thing”?

For me in 2018, that one thing is surrender—my word of the year. Each day, I begin my prayer time surrendering the day to Jesus, asking Him to show me what good things I am to do and what to set aside. What areas do I need to yield to Him? Beyond this, I plan to explore this topic all year long by memorizing verses, studying, praying, and writing about what surrender means in my life.

Yes, many days and moments are about duties and gettin’ it done. God knows this. However, where in our moments and hours do we need to surrender, let it go, and sit at His feet as Mary did? The month is late, but the year is still young enough to tackle that  One Thing.

Reflect:

1. Pick four Good Things on which you will focus in 2018.

2. Pull out your One Thing from this list. The most important one. The thing that will make the biggest difference in your life this year.

Tell someone. Give it to God each day. Plan how to implement this priority in your life.

Now go live it.