I Know I Need To, But HOW?

We all face moments in our life when life lets us know in no uncertain terms, we need to change. These are difficult, precious, a perilous moments, especially if you don't know how to change.

Oct 28, 2024

I watched a well-known leadership teacher speak recently (I like to keep up with this world since I find it helpful and cautionary). He commented on the necessity of making decisions to change. He used some commonly heard excuses about why someone doesn’t live up to their potential: “I am not a leader. Then CHANGE and become a leader!”

I understand where he’s coming from and agree to a certain extent, but the challenge is how to change.

And what do I do with the time between the moment I decided to change and my arrival at the new place?

In other words, I’m clear about where I am and where I need to be, but how do I get from one place to another? Learning the path of spiritual and even emotional maturity takes a willingness to humbly admit I need a Guide.

No wonder there are so many books that try to answer that question! It’s the everyday struggle of all of us who know we need to change but struggle to get from one place to another!

Look at a very familiar passage that is today’s Lesson in Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28:

At that time, Jesus entered a village; and a woman called Martha received 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 to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve you alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Everybody knows this story well, and we all identify with Mary or Martha at some point. I’ve identified as “both” even on the same day! But the power of this passage isn’t merely seeing yourself as one or the other; it’s hearing the wisdom from the Lord as to the keys to growing in your faith and choosing the healthiest path.

First, notice Jesus prioritizes communion over busyness or even heredity! Jesus doesn’t say that Martha’s work is bad or even useless, but He does say that Mary has chosen the “good portion.” Isn’t that a wonderful phrase, “good portion?”

It communicates a prioritizing of time and energy to get the most out of the moment.

To be sure, being a good hostess is important. Serving your guests is exemplary. BUT, being at the feet of Jesus when He’s right in your house is a better use of your time and energy at that moment. How often have we prioritized something else, even a good thing, over being with God in prayer or worship? We lose the “good portion” by not focusing on the moment we are in, and we miss the ability to move from frenzied worry to peaceful communion with God and each other.

Next, I love how the Lord responds to the woman in the crowd's amazed cry! This response reveals much wisdom and insight into spiritual, emotional, and even physical growth.

The lady in the crowd wants to say how wonderful the Lord’s mother is, and Jesus redirects her praise to the proper reason WHY His mother is to be praised – Hearing the Word of God and keeping it! Jesus redirects the woman’s sincere words to the heart of how humans are called to grow in our relationships with each other and God. We are called to stay awake to the reality that if we are going to remember the “good portion” and spend focused time with God, we have to follow through with that discipline by “keeping” the Word we hear.

So, the key to solving my and your dilemma of moving from one place to another in our spiritual growth is the ability to discern when to sit and when to move. That can only come from a concerted and focused commitment to allowing the Faith to reorient your priorities and actions. And that’s going to take you exercising your will to put the practice of your Faith FIRST before all other priorities.

We read this passage on practically every feast day of the Theotokos in the Church Year. And the feast we celebrate today is no exception. We recall when, during the 10th century, a “fool for Christ,” St. Andrew (remembered on Oct. 2), saw a vision of the Theotokos holding her veil over the capital city. The people were praying an all-night Vigil during a particularly difficult time, and St. Andrew saw St. Mary, the Theotokos, spreading her veil over the people and praying to Christ for their protection. The city was spared, and the people wanted to make sure they didn’t forget God’s mercy, so the feast was established to this day to help us never forget our precious Panagia and all the saints pray for us!

Today, aren’t you tired of spinning your wheels stuck in the rut of “well, that’s just the way I am?” It’s time to learn to discern when to sit and when to move. Do this by living a Normal Orthodox Life!

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Fr. Barnabas Powell is the parish priest at Sts. Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene Greek Orthodox Church in Cumming, GA. He is also the founder of Faith Encouraged Ministries and produces the Faith Encouraged Daily Devotional on Substack. Watch the Faith Encouraged YouTube Channel here - https://www.youtube.com/@FaithEncouragedTV