As I walked down the hallway, I heard those, all too familiar, words again…“prepare.”
It wasn’t the first time I had heard the Lord tell me to prepare – but it was the first time I had heard it in a long time.
I continued getting ready for the day.
Frankly, I don’t even ask what to prepare for anymore – I simply tune into His voice for further instruction – knowing it will come when He is ready to share it with me.
Sure enough, hours later, He was speaking to my heart again. He said, “Martha thought she was preparing well.”
Most of us are familiar with the story of Mary & Martha.
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 8:38-42 NKJV)
As we see in the scriptures, Martha was busy preparing for what she felt Jesus would want or need at this gathering. She was cooking, serving, making sure everyone was fed and comfortable. Martha was obviously troubled that Mary wasn’t as worried about the same things she was.
Mary, on the other hand, was not going to miss this moment. She wasn’t concerned with other people. She wasn’t worrying or troubled about anything. She was in perfect peace. She had one thing on her mind. Jesus. Her Master. Her Lord.
Both women were preparing. Martha felt she was doing what was necessary to properly serve Jesus.
Martha really thought she was preparing well.
There are times we must prepare things in the natural. Keep our houses clean. Make sure everyone is fed and well cared for. Those things are important, to us, and to God. However, there are times that one thing is needed. That one way of preparing is what is required.
What is it? It is, sitting at the feet of Jesus.
I knew from our conversation that Jesus was instructing me in the way to prepare for the season we have entered. Sitting at His feet. Listening to His word. Learning His ways.
I knew He was telling me it is not the time to be worried or troubled about all the things I must accomplish in the natural. To make certain that I set aside time to prepare my heart, and my spirit, for what is ahead. To make time to spend time in His presence. Face to face time.
It reminds me of my little granddaughter, Brailee. There are times she tells her Mom she needs Nana time. That means she wants time alone with me.
Whether we realize it or not, we all need Jesus time. Time alone with just us and Him.
Lay everything else aside for a few minutes and get in His face. Be in His presence. Not to get a message. Not to ask for something you have need of. But to spend time cultivating the relationship between the two of you. Intimate time with your Lord.
These times are the most important preparation times you will ever have. In His presence is all you have need of. It is time well invested.
Today, I encourage you to prepare. Prepare for the wonderful place God is taking you. Prepare by spending time in His presence. Intimate time. Quiet time. Time where you have one thing on your mind…Him. Again, I say, it will be time well invested and it will reap an abundant harvest. Time at His feet…the one needed thing.
Meditate on this:
The upright shall dwell in your presence. Psalm 140:13
May hungering and thirsting for God drive us to a passionate, relentless pursuit of Him.
