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Share a Comment: Consider sharing a comment in the box below with something God is showing you either about fasting, prayer, or making room in your heart – as an encouragement to others.

Daily Devotionals: As we step into this next season in the life of our church, we are asking the Lord to help us “Make Room in our Hearts” – for the people Jesus loves, and the people Jesus brings. During these 21 Days, our whole church will be reflecting and meditating on these same thoughts and prayers together, with one mind, guided by and depending on one Spirit.

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Engage the Word: Make Room for the One Thing

Read Luke 10:38-42

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus[a] entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary.[b] Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Connect the Heart

It’s hard to be Martha- so much to do, so little time, and so few people to help! She has a long list of to-do’s, and it’s not fair that Mary is just “sitting” and not helping. Certainly, Jesus would see the imbalance, defend her, and make Mary get up and help, right? But He doesn’t. Instead, he sees clear through to Martha’s heart, a stormy sea of anxiety and distress, and He speaks words of comfort, “Martha, Martha…” We can imagine his tone is kind and fatherly as he gently reorders Martha’s priorities. Martha was doing good things. But she wasn’t doing the BEST thing, the ONE thing that was necessary.

Luke doesn’t tell us what happened after this. Did Martha leave in a huff? Or maybe she sighed a big sigh, let one hot tear slide down her cheek, and sat down next to Mary. The next moment, she’s looking up into Jesus’ eyes and is suddenly wrapped in a blanket of unconditional love and peace that soothes her troubled heart. Everything she was worried about fades away in His presence.

It sounds like it took some time for Martha to learn to “make room” for Jesus in her heart. How about you? Has it been a while since you’ve looked into His eyes, listened for His voice, and let Him soothe your troubled heart? He’s inviting you today to sigh a big sigh, set aside your to-do’s, and just sit with Him.

Reflect on the Truth

1. Take an inventory of your heart. Is it full of anxiety and distress because of all you need to do? If so, imagine the loving voice of Jesus saying your name twice, and then inviting you to sit with Him as he comforts you with His empathy and redirection.
2. Jesus told Martha, “one thing is necessary.” What was that one thing? Spend some time journaling and talking with Jesus about your priorities and that “one thing” that is necessary in your relationship with Him.

Depend on the Spirit

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see the deeper longings, desires or motives in your heart that these thoughts are pointing to. (for example: you may write down, “I have a lot on my plate right now, along with a lot of legitimate concerns. I don’t really know how to make room for that “one thing” that is necessary. Please help me.”) The Lord can help us discern the path forward – through His Word, His Spirit, His people.

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For Prayer
As you conclude your devotional time, pray that Ascent Church would be known as a people who treasure God first, before any “things” we might possess – and that each of us would take to heart Jesus’ words to store up for ourselves treasures in Heaven.

Fasting

Please read the first blog post entitled “Why Fast?” This explains what fasting is and why we follow Jesus in this spiritual discipline as together we seek the heart of God.

Previous Posts
To read yesterday’s blog post devotional, please click here.

To read our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting Introduction, please click here.

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Some parts of our 21 Days devotionals are adapted using various resources on scripture and prayer like The Bible Exposition Commentary, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, The New Bible Commentary, Logos Bible Software and other resources.

Share a Comment: Consider sharing a comment in the box below with something God is showing you either about fasting, prayer, or making room in your heart – as an encouragement to others.