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 10:42
What work pleases God?
Simply put, work that pleases God must first be work that He has instructed us to do,be it the work of our hand or the work of our heart. When we look at Mary and Martha, we see many things, but one clear message is that the work of our heart is just as valuable to God as the work of our hand, and in some cases even more! Alternatively, when we study the book of Nehemiah, we clearly see that he was leading others in pleasing God through the work of their hands.
Consider this, if we were expecting guests to come over, and we ask our children to pick up the items in the living room but instead they decide to pick up the items in their room, we may be appreciative but we wouldn’t be pleased. Them doing work but not the work we asked them to do at that moment did not help fulfill the desired result of being prepared for the guests. Them cleaning their room is fulfilling the work of their hand while cleaning the living room reflects an act of obedience and that is a work of the heart. In that moment, we would have been pleased with the act of obedience displayed through cleaning the room we asked them to clean.
This is often what happens with us in our walk with God. We do good work but not the work we have been instructed to do in that season. I believe that the work God is pleased with is the work He has specifically instructed us to do to collaborate with His kingdom vision. When someone tells me that they do not know what that work is, I encourage them to consider the last set of instructions He gave them and start with that.
Was it to start a blog?
Be a caregiver of someone?
Start a business or non-profit?
Go back to school?
Start counseling or coaching?
Relocate to a different state?
Take care of a loved one although it’s inconvenient?
What are the last instructions that He gave you? The fulfillment of this work will be the start of the work that He is pleased with.
Share with me in the blog comments below.
I truly feel and have felt this for a while and that’s to study and learn more of God’s word. And how I know this is true because each time I start studying, praying and trying to breakdown the word of God distraction come. Please keep me on your prayers that I overcome these distractions.
This is amazing. I pray he reveals himself to you in a powerful way.
This was SO TIMELY, Rachel! You are gifted to adjust God’s children into realignment with a perfect balance of love and urgency – thank you, sis!
Awww thank you Kayren. So thankful for encouragers like you.
This was an on-point reminder to not just do “work” like a busy-body. But to stay focused on “the” work…this is what pleases God! Which is what He instructed me to do. Lord,help me to stay focused.
Oh my friend, I am so glad it blessed you. Yes!!!
To be honest idk. I feel like God may be wanting me to relocate. Ever since I been where I’m at, it has been an unhappy journey. Met wonderful people but the situations I came across were not good. Maybe I was never supposed to come here. I feel I am constantly getting uncomfortable so now I have the courage to say regardless of what happens this year, I’m relocating!. But of course truly hearing God on where I’m going is important. Cause right now I think I heard but is not sure. I want to be obedient. Even of it is somewhere I never thought about moving to! God knows what is best for his children. I’m learning to trust Him💞
I believe God has called me to be a prayer leader
We definitely need more prayer leaders. Thank you for answering the call.
Thanks Rachel. Right now I am doing the two things God told me to do. One: to pursue HIM and get to know Him better. I have been a believer for many years and Gods calling has been in my heart since I was a teenager. Even so, Holy Spirit has assured me of a 7 fold harvest while at the same time letting me know “I’m nor ready,” for all He has planned for me. So I am pressing in each day to know Him better, like Mary at His feet. Second: remain engaged with Trauma Healing. I am facillitating with my mentor. I love to work with hurting women, but at present I am doing more of a support group work than teaching the Word of God which is my passion. I am learning a great deal about HOW to help these women but not using much of the Word of God. It has been a great challenge for me to stay the course. My mentor is a great person, but she and I have a very different understanding of how to do Trauma Healing and we come at ministry from total opposite perspectives. Therefore, I usually give way to her methods. I want to break away and follow what is in my heart but I dont feel released yet. I believe that God will lead me further when it is His time. I need prayer to continue to submit to Gods will for me at this time. That means that I stay in a subordinate position. Yet I am feeling that this Trauma Healing is not the final stop for me; rather, this is a further equipping for what He is putting together for me to do in His Kingdom. If you have any thoughts or wisdom, I would love to hear them.
Sincerely, Diane
Both so very powerful! Thank you for sharing.
Hi Rachel,
What GOD has committed me to do is contry-side evangelism.
Preaching the undiluted word of GOD for the less privileged door-to-door in the rural areas
Wow! That’s amazing. Praying his blessing over you.