Don’t Just Do Something, Stand There!
- Kiy
- Apr 30, 2019
- 6 min read
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:38-42
What does your calendar look like? How about your daily schedule? Crazy? Yeah, mine too! That’s why I have decided to take a look at it all, and decide what is the “good part” then declutter the rest and “Stand Still”. It’s definitely not going to be an easy task. Here’s a few reasons why. We live in a world where we are expected to fill in every second on our daily planner. Am I right? Think about it for just a few seconds. Maybe if all the time slots are filled in, it makes us feel more important. I’m sure Martha felt important that day as she prepared drinks, a meal and maybe even tidied up a bit. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good to feed our family and guest, and it’s good to keep our homes tidy. However, there may be other things on our calendar that are getting in the way of us doing the “good part” that God expects us to do. We need to be careful to not let ourselves be fooled by the world. We we need not to be so busy that we cannot do what God would have us to do.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2
Another reason it’s not going to be easy to “Stand Still” is everyone else will be running around and expect you to do the same. Don’t believe me? What was Martha’s attitude toward Mary? Yep, that’s right. She was not happy with Mary’s decision to “Stand Still”. She expected Mary to do what she expected Mary to do. That’s how it is with us too. People will expect you to keep on running around like the headless chicken. Stand firm, and “Stand Still”! It’s okay to tell people “No” sometimes. I’m learning how to do this right now. It is not an easy thing for me, I like to make people happy. However, I have realized I need to make God happy first. As I have had this on my mind this week, this thought came to me. I like taking photos with my DSLR Camera. It has a rechargeable battery. That battery works and works, then all of a sudden a little warning sign on my camera comes up letting me know it is running out of juice. I have to remove the battery from the camera, and place it on the charger. It cannot work and regain its power at the same time. It has to “Stand Still”. Get it?!?
"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:29-31
These verses remind us we get our strength from the Lord, but we need to WAIT! We need to “Stand Still”.
As women, what is our purpose? What does God want us doing?
If you are married, your primary duties are toward your family. 1 Timothy 5:14 tells us, “I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house,…”. Titus 2:3-5 says, “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” These verses tell us we are supposed to be teaching younger women and our children. We should love our husbands and children. We should have self-control, and be pure and holy. We should be good house-keepers, good-natured and submissive.
As mothers, our obligations, following that to our husbands, are to our children. We see several times in Proverbs children told to obey their mother. “My son,… and forsake not the law of thy mother:” Proverbs 1:8b. We see Timothy received a great example from his mother and grandmother. “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” 2 Timothy 1:5. If our kids are grown and on their own, we still have the responsibility to have a good Godly influence on our grandchildren. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15. We are the ones who can teach and reach our kids! It’s our duty, they’re our ministry!
So much time and energy go into a family. But what if you are single? If you are a single lady, you have a greater opportunity! 1 Corinthians 7:34 says, “There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.” God can use you in great ways! That’s why Paul says in 1 Corinthians, “… it is good for them if they abide even as I.”
As Christian women we all should have some similar priorities. These should include; time in Prayer (My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Psalms 5:3), time in the Word (Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.), and time for Worship (Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25). If we do not have time for these, we need to “Stand Still” and reevaluate our lives.
If we make Prayer, Studying the Word and Worship a priority we will find ourselves taking time to be thankful. A person with a thankful heart is a person who finds time to “Stand Still”. Luke 17 tells us of ten lepers who called out to Jesus to have mercy on them. After they were healed they all went their way except for one. Luke 17:15-16 says, “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks:…”
Our spiritual, physical and emotional condition make a huge difference in how we react to situations. We need to not make days so busy that we find ourselves exhausted. I know it’s harder said than done, but when life seems crazy, remember, “Don’t Just Do Something, Stand There”.
(This is a devotion I shared with our ladies this month. Feel free to use it, as an encouragement, with other ladies if you'd like. All verses are from the King James Version.)
You can download a printable copy of this devotion here: Don’t Just Do Something,Stand There!
Looking for other short devotions for ladies? Here are a few more:
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