The Blessing of "Being in the Moment" with Jesus

“But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38).

Have you ever stretched yourself thin trying to complete everything on your “to‑do list,” only to discover that the more you check off, the longer the list gets? If so, you’re not alone. Many of us wrestle with balancing our responsibilities with the call to spend intimate time in the Lord’s presence.

In Luke 10:1–3, Jesus prepared His disciples for ministry by saying, “I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.” He sent them out two‑by‑two to heal the sick and proclaim that the kingdom of God was near. After their ministry assignment, Jesus and the disciples arrived in Bethany—the home of Martha and Mary. Scripture tells us, “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…” (Luke 10:38–40). Feeling overwhelmed, Martha approached Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.”

Let’s be honest—how many of us can relate to Martha’s frustration? Jesus and His disciples were important guests. They needed to be fed. Hospitality was a sacred responsibility in biblical times, and Martha took that responsibility seriously. Serving was her God‑given gift. She didn’t wait for instructions; she simply stepped in to meet the need. An anonymous author once defined a servant this way: “A servant sees a need ahead of time and steps in to meet it without being asked.” Martha was doing exactly that. But when she saw Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet instead of helping in the kitchen, her frustration rose and her attitude shifted. “Lord, do You not care…?” she asked.

Can you imagine how Mary felt hearing her sister speak about her that way—especially when Martha could have spoken to her directly? Yet Jesus responded with gentle love: “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.” (Luke 10:41–42) Jesus wasn’t rebuking Martha’s service. He knew her heart. He understood her desire to honor Him. But He also recognized that she needed to be gently refocused. He affirmed the value of her work and reminded her that even good work is never more important than time spent in His presence. Jesus wanted Martha to learn how to be in the moment.

To be in the moment means choosing to slow down, quiet the noise, and give your full attention to the Lord who is right in front of you. It means intentionally seeking His guidance. It means pausing long enough to be filled with His power, strength, and wisdom before you pour out. It means listening before you labor and letting His presence shape your priorities.

When your focus shifts from devotion to duty, your gift can turn into:

• A burden instead of a blessing

• Frustration instead of worship

• Resentment instead of service

• Performance instead of presence

• Noise instead of ministry

Here are five blessings of “Being in the Moment with Jesus””

1. Clarity in the Middle of Chaos

Sitting with Jesus quiets the noise. Confusion settles. Priorities realign. Peace replaces pressure.

2. Strength That Comes From His Presence

You stop serving from an empty place. His presence becomes your fuel, not your frustration.

3. A Tender and Teachable Heart

Time with Jesus softens the heart and protects you from irritation, burnout, and resentment.

4. A Sharper Awareness of His Voice

Stillness helps you sense His nudges, His comfort, His correction, and His direction.

5. Joy in the Assignment Instead of Weight

When devotion leads duty, serving becomes worship again. The task doesn’t change—but your heart does.

One simple way to realign your heart and make space for the Lord’s presence is through fasting and prayer. Don’t forfeit the blessings God has for you by pouring all your energy into duty while neglecting devotion.

I invite you to join me in a 21‑day fast beginning February 1st. If you set time aside to focus on Him, God will bless you with everything you need to do what is needed.

For His glory…

Written by Sandra Kelley (1/29/2026)