Fill My Cup Lord

The children are back to school now and if you took time off for the holidays you are mostly likely back to work as well. And so, it begins again, in full swing. Trying to keep up with dental appointments, drop offs and pick ups from school, sports practice, music, and dance lessons, fitting in grocery runs and meal prepping. Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of life. As the to-do list increases and the demands of life as a parent, spouse, sister, aunt, Grandma, friend, and grown-up come at you from all sides. It can get overwhelming and draining, making the words rest and relaxation seem like a foreign language.

I’m reminded of the story of Mary and Martha in Luke.10:38-42. Martha and Mary were the sisters of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. They opened their home to Jesus, and He came in to visit. While He was in their home, Mary never left Jesus’ side. To her, everything else took second place. She sat at His feet and simply listened to all He had to say, soaking it all in. Martha on the other hand was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke.10:40-42.

It was right, hospitable, and culturally appropriate for Martha to prepare for and serve her special guest Jesus, yet Mary understood the priority and necessity of choosing to spend time with Jesus, sitting at His feet and learning from Him. Letting Him fill her cup. This was a unique opportunity and Mary understood this more than most.

I often felt like I don’t have the luxury of being a Mary. Just sitting and doing ‘nothing’ while I can see there is lots to be done. I’m sure many mothers can relate with that. We’re often doing four or five things around the house simultaneously. I mean, who’s going to do it if I just sit and pretend, I don’t see it piling up.

But Mary wasn’t doing nothing. She was having her cup filled by Jesus Christ Himself! A one-on-one opportunity with Jesus was so rare that it was mostly just His disciples who got to have Jesus all to themselves. Most other times the Bible tells us that a crowd was always following Jesus, seeking for Him to heal their sick and speak to them the Words of life.

Even Jesus testifies that although what Martha was doing was good, it is Mary who chose what is better and it will never be taken away from her. Mary did not sit at Jesus’s feet all her life, never doing anything else but that. It was just this one time that the Bible talks about. This specific visit. She was discerning enough to know when it was time to be busy doing many other things and when it was time to sit at the Lord’s feet. My takeaway is that everything else in life that I value is good, but spending time alone with Jesus is better. Prioritizing time with Jesus means intentionally curving out time in my day to read my Bible, praise, and praise God. That looks different everyday for me. Sometimes it’s in the morning for 15minutes, sometimes it is late in the night after the children are in bed for the night. And sometimes it is even in the bathroom because that it the only place I got to be alone that day. Life is not as predictable now that I have little ones and the time I have is literally not my own for now. I exist to serve these little image bearers of God. A taxing service at times, but one I would never trade in because not only did I pray for this, but I’m so blessed to have the honor and privilege along with my husband to be trusted by God to raise Godly children for Him.

I can testify to the fact that on the days I am intentional enough to spend time with Jesus in prayer, worship and Bible reading, everything else in my life goes much better. I’m more patient with the children, I have a joyful spirit as I go about the household activities that would otherwise feel mundane and I’m generally a more wise and productive human being.

So my encouragement is this, if you are feeling overwhelmed, worried and upset about many things, take the time to sit at Jesus’ feet and allow Him to fill your cup. Choose to spend time in His presence, learning from Him through His Word. It’s worth it to make time in your day and life for Jesus. Allowing Jesus to fill your cup through prayer, Bible reading, and worship will bring you, among other great things, peace and clarity that is beyond human understanding.

The benefits are immeasurable. Both in this life and in the next.