May We Never Grow Tired of Prayer
Katie Story // Youth Intern
“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 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.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” - Luke 10:38-42
In a time in my life when it is so easy to get distracted by busyness, school, or even serving, I often forget the importance of sitting at Jesus’ feet. In this story, two women encounter Jesus. One joyfully sits at his feet while the other distractingly serves, confused about what it means to be devoted to Jesus.
I recently attended a 9Marks prayer conference at Southeastern Seminary along with 9 other college students (and young adults) from Watkinsville. In most of the sessions, the speakers shared a passage regarding corporate prayer, but the first (and my personal favorite) session sought to explain our personal posture of prayer.
Through the teaching of Brian Davis, pastor of Risen Christ Fellowship in Philadelphia, PA, I was reminded of the preeminence of a personal prayer life before a corporate prayer life. His message left me with several questions discussed below, but ultimately, it left me with a desire to supremely seek after the Lord, realizing that being with Jesus is the better portion.
What does it mean to be devoted?
Devotion is defined as “a religious exercise or practice other than the regular corporate worship of a congregation.”
In this story, Mary was devoted to spending time with her Lord through gleaning from him personally. Martha loved Jesus as well, but she did not know how to exercise devotion to her Lord in this story. She was distracted by much serving.
As Davis mentioned in his message, “it is possible to do things about Jesus without Jesus.” I spent some time reflecting on my devotion to the Lord. How often am I quick to forget that He is worthy of private worship? I prioritize serving, praying with other believers, and being involved with the activities within the church, but I am so quick to forget what it means to be devoted to the Lord.
Let’s refrain from being college students who get distracted with much serving rather than worshiping and expressing our devotion through our service.
What does it look like to sit at Jesus’ feet?
To listen. To abide. I confess that far too often I go to God’s word in order to teach it, rather than to hear from my God. However, in this story, Mary’s actions show the opposite. She sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His teaching.
Our lives as Christians should be characterized by abiding in prayer and the reading of God’s word (see John 15). Let’s be college students, leaders, and teachers who approach the Bible to hear from our Lord.
What is the good portion and why should we choose it?
In verse 42, Jesus states that Mary has chosen the good portion, but what does that mean and why should we choose it ourselves? The good portion is Jesus: the ultimate sustainer, and the one thing that will never be taken away from Mary. He is also the one thing that will never be taken from us, and that is why we should choose him. Our relationship with God is the one thing that can never be taken away from us.
Let’s live our lives in a genuine realization of Jesus’ supreme value. Let’s be college students who choose Jesus instead of being “distracted with much serving” or being “anxious and troubled about many things.”
How does all of this fit into corporate prayer with fellow believers?
At the end of the conference, Mark Dever encouraged us to realize “our public prayer life together as a church should be a public outgrowth of our prayer in private.” Before entering a time of corporate prayer, examine your own personal relationship with the Lord. Have you spent time in prayer with Him today? Have you taken time to reflect on His infinite glory to gain a bigger view of Him?
“Before entering a time of corporate prayer, examine your own personal relationship with the Lord. Have you spent time in prayer with Him today? Have you taken time to reflect on His infinite glory to gain a bigger view of Him? ”
As I have seen in my own personal walk with the Lord, a big view of God comes from spending time sitting in His presence and growing in knowledge of His infinite glory. That is what Mary chose to do. She chose the good portion. She chose to sit at His feet. Let’s be college students who are characterized by this, so that when we enter a time of personal or corporate prayer, we are so thrilled to talk to our Lord.
To encourage leaders in the church to engage in consistent corporate prayer, Mark Dever said to “spend so much time praying that people who only claim to know Him get bored.” When you are spending time sitting at the feet of Jesus learning about his unmatched character, you can’t help but want to talk to Him.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, may we never grow tired of prayer. May we never find it boring. Because through Jesus, we have access to our Heavenly Father, and He is supremely worthy of confiding in through prayer.
- Katie
Father, you are worthy of praise today. Thank you for providing us access to you through the sending of your son, the Savior of the World. May we never forget the incredible gift of this access to you. Teach us to be Christians who desire to learn more about you through the reading of your Word that prompts us to lift up praises and requests to you. We want a big view of you, so continue to teach us, grow us, mold us into college students who are steadfast in prayer, personally and corporately. Thank you for a church family who emphasizes this and encourages us to pray boldly as a ministry for your name to spread across Athens and across the globe. May we be consistent in this and realize that we can do nothing without you and your spirit working through us.
Amen
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Katie Story is a 3rd year Middle Grades Education major at UGA. She loves hanging out at Watty & Jittery Joes, teaching, and spending time with her awesome friends. Katie has served as a youth intern at Watkinsville for two years, and went to Boston with GenSend in the summer of 2019. She is passionate about encouraging middle school students and college-aged peers to love God and love others.
Follow Katie on Instagram: @katiewhatsyourstory
HAVE A COOL IDEA FOR A BLOG POST? IS THERE SOMETHING THE LORD HAS PLACED ON YOUR HEART TO SHARE?
Contact Mac Willingham (478-960-0399) or email college@watkinsville.org with your idea and we’ll talk about posting it here!
Check out our most recent posts below!
Natalie Tyndall // UGA Grad Student