BACK ON TRACK

I don't have a lot of excuses! Okay……I really do…but you probably don't want to hear them, and they really don't matter at this point. So suffice it to say, I have been busy "doing life".

I've discovered that "life" can keep us busy if we're not careful. So I'm convicted to encourage you (as I encourage myself) to get "Back On Track".

So how do we "get back on track"? We must first assess the past several months to see what has taken our attention; what are the things that we've compromised on; and what caused us to veer from our intended path? Okay I'll start. I know that if I'm not careful, I will stay up all night working on my laptop. This means that I will get in bed really late, and as a result, will be somewhat lackluster when I have to get up. Therefore I have made a personal pact with myself, to be intentional about getting in bed at a reasonable time at least three nights a week (not including the weekend). This is the ONLY way that I can maintain a real sense saneness and a fresh perspective on all that I am called upon to do.

Do you remember our girl, Martha? Like many of us, she was "busy" doing all kinds of tasks and was overwhelmed in the process. (See Luke 10:38-42) There was nothing wrong with the things that Martha was doing. It's just that she was "distracted with all her preparations". In fact, she was so distracted, that she began to snap at Jesus, saying (in my translation), "Lord do you see that I'm doing everything and my crazy sister isn't doing anything? Tell her to bring her hips in this kitchen"! Now, what's the problem with this picture? Aside from the fact that she is addressing Jesus like he is her homey, she has totally missed the fact that she has gotten "off track". How do we know that? The text goes on to state that Jesus says to her (my translation again), "Girl, chill out! What you are doing is good no doubt. But your sister Mary is doing something better". (The actual NIV translation states, " Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her").

What was Mary doing? Verse 39 of that text states that Mary was "seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word". Beloved, the only true way to get back on track and stay on track, is to stay at the feet of Jesus. So often, we allow the cares of this world to take us in multiple directions, and we lose our sense of being anchored. But when we stay at the feet of Jesus, we get a feel for what He wants us to do, how He wants us to proceed, and more importantly, what He wants us to prioritize.

I'm as guilty as anyone of being "distracted with all my preparations". But none of it means anything, if we're not starting each project, task, and duty, at His feet. So, as we rapidly enter into the last quarter of this year, let's make a decision to do "what is better". I guarantee you it will put you "back on track".