A note from Kelly King: I just returned to work after taking some time off with my family over the holidays. I knew returning to work would be a “slap in the face” with a long to-do list. Like Whitley Tracy, I tend to be a “doer” and can find lots of reasons to choose busy instead of choosing best. Her article today is a good reminder for leaders who need a reminder to keep our priorities in check.
About two years ago, when I would run into a friend and be asked how I was doing, I would respond, “I’m good! Busy, but good!” What I didn’t realize was that I was quickly headed toward burnout and running on fumes. I’ve always been a do-er. I love to be busy, I love people, and I love to go and do. And I don’t “rest” well.
I’ve always been aware of this trait about myself, on some level at least, but it took the Lord using a speaker at a conference and the comments of probably too many of my loved ones over the course of time for me to finally wake up to the realization that I wasn’t just busy; I was too busy, and there were areas of my life that were suffering the consequences.
I think it took me so long to realize this because I felt like I was busy with “the Lord’s work” and how could any of that be a bad thing? Martha and I have that in common. In Luke 10, we see the story of Mary and Martha, sisters who were preparing their home for a visit from Jesus. When Jesus arrived, Mary sat at His feet listening to His teaching, while Martha was “distracted” by serving. Martha was busy; Mary was still. Interestingly enough, we see Mary of Bethany three different times in Scripture (Luke 10:39, John 11:32, John 12:3), and each time she was in the same place—at the feet of Jesus. This is the type of leader I want to be—the one found at Jesus’ feet. More so, I want the women alongside me to see my worship for Jesus even as I do things to minister in His name.
In her book The Best Yes, Lysa TerKeurst says, “A woman who lives with the stress of an overwhelmed schedule will often ache with the sadness of an underwhelmed soul.” This is often an issue that plagues women, and especially women in leadership, whether on staff at a church or on the volunteer level. Often we feel that if we don’t say yes, then who will? So instead, we say yes to things that we don’t feel called to, either out of fear that it won’t get done or just so that we can be busy. Because busy seems to be better. However, in the case with Mary and Martha, Jesus explains to Martha that “Mary has made the right choice.” Martha obviously has a passion and a heart to serve. However, she has let that passion cloud the greater need, which was time with Jesus.
So as we begin the New Year, the world around us is telling us to make resolutions, set our goals for 2018, and plan our action steps to get those done. These are all good things, but are they Kingdom-minded things? Instead of first looking at all that needs to be done in 2018, what if we started by spending time in prayer asking the Lord to align our hearts with His? What if instead of making a list of goals, we started by sitting at the feet of Jesus and letting our goal be Him?
So join me, sister, as we embark on this New Year. There’s so much excitement in the air, so many to-do lists to be made, meetings to attend, women to meet, and events to plan. With all the things that need to be done, I encourage you to not miss out on the best. Sit at His feet, and let His heart permeate all that is on your calendar.
Whitley Tracy is a small-town farm girl from Oklahoma who is thankful for God’s plan being better than her own. Whitley has been the Girls Minister at Trinity Baptist in Ada, Oklahoma for the past 5 years where she has a heart for girls to find their true identity in Christ, discipleship, and to help young women grow in their relationship with the Lord. She graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and she’s now continuing her education at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Girls & Women’s Ministry. In her spare time, she loves living life with her two roommates, DIY projects, flowers, laughing, spending time with family, drinking coffee, and eating ice cream.
