Our monthly ‘Do It’ list is inspired by the sisters Mary and Martha. Their story is found in Luke 10:38-42. Though they lived in the first century, their story succinctly addresses many of our 21st-century struggles.
The Mary/Martha tension may sound familiar: we long to sit before our Lord, soaking in His Word so we can speak truth, live well, and honor God in all we do. Yet we are all too aware of the burden of keeping a home that is organized and healthy, while also raising our children to be godly, responsible adults. And when the doorbell rings unexpectedly, we want to wholeheartedly embrace hospitality — without being embarrassed by the clutter and chaos in our home. Often those goals compete and seem mutually exclusive.
Our ‘Do It’ list aspires to help us live with Mary hearts in our Martha world. It includes elements that would be applauded by both sisters.
We first introduced our one-page ‘Do It’ list in January. Each month we have highlighted various elements of this home organization tool; you can find previous posts unpacking some of the specifics here:
This month, we are tweaking the Mary-inspired points on the daily list and adding one: Pray. May is the month we observe the National Day of Prayer, so it seems a good time to examine this much-talked-about but often under-practiced discipline. (Be sure to look for our PRAYER bookmark, the latest in the Write The Word series, in an upcoming post on May 1st.)
Prayer is simply conversation with God. As with all conversations, it should include some talking as well as some listening. Communication flows in both directions. Because we want to encourage the development of this discipline, we’ve added it to our daily ‘Do It’ list. Prayer time can be devoted and focused. Beginning our day with prayer helps get us aligned with God and ready to walk out the day in worship. This set-aside time with God renews our commitment to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind (the Greatest Commandment of all, as shared by Jesus in Matthew 22:37).
But since Paul admonishes us to “pray continually” in I Thessalonians 5:17, it seems that prayer can also be done while doing other things. It’s okay to multi-task with prayer. And it occurs to me that if we practice prayer while working, then work is transformed into worship. Praying while we work might bring a nod of approval from both Mary and Martha. Here are some examples:
- As you make your bed, smoothing out the sheet and pulling up the bedspread: Lord, thank You for a night of rest and a roof over my head. Thank You for this new day to serve You and others. Smooth out the wrinkles, let me respond in love, cover me with Your grace, and work in me to extend grace to others. Bless me and make me a blessing.
- Pray as you load and fold laundry, letting each piece of clothing prompt your prayers. As you fold pants, socks, shirts, dresses, you can intercede for your precious ones:
- God, I pray that Kyle would always walk in your truth as a man of God.
- Lord, I pray Ginger would put on love in all she does.
- Jesus, cover Luke with Your grace today.
- Holy Spirit, I ask the fruit You provide would be worn well by Lydia.
- As you clean out the fridge or clear out a closet: O God, give me wisdom to know what needs purged from my heart and mind. Help me to put off the old nature and embrace the new that has come to me through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
We hope these prayer prompts stir your heart to “pray continually” – to worship as you work. And we pray this month’s ‘Do It’ list spurs you on to live with a Mary heart in your Martha world.
We would love to hear your “pray continually” prayers. Please share those in the comments below to spur us all on to worship as we work!
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