I write about Stuff

“But the Lord said to her, ‘My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.’” — Luke 10:41–42 (NLT)

If you long for spiritual renewal — a deeper sense of God’s presence, a fresh spark in your faith, a revived heart — Jesus offers a simple but profound invitation: become a worshiper before anything else.

In Luke 10, we see three roles that shape a vibrant spiritual life: being an ambassador for Christ, being a neighbour like Christ, and being a worshiper of Christ. This third role is the one that fuels the other two. Without worship, our work becomes strain. Without worship, our service becomes duty. Without worship, our faith becomes thin.

Many of us slip into Martha’s mindset without even noticing. We fill our days with good things — serving, helping, planning, giving — and slowly begin to believe that God needs our activity more than our attention. But Jesus gently corrects that assumption. God doesn’t need us. God desires us.

Worship is where our strength is renewed. Worship is where our identity is restored. Worship is where our hearts are softened, our priorities realigned, and our souls refreshed. Without it, we burn out. With it, we burn bright.

Mary understood this. When Jesus entered her home, she didn’t rush to the kitchen or scramble to impress Him. She sat at His feet — listening, learning, resting, receiving. She recognized the moment for what it was: an opportunity to be with the One who loved her.

Martha, overwhelmed by details, grew frustrated — not because she didn’t love Jesus, but because she forgot that Jesus wanted her presence more than her productivity. And Jesus, with tenderness, reminded her: “There is only one thing worth being concerned about.”

Worship is that one thing.

Worship doesn’t always look like singing or sitting quietly with Scripture. It can be stillness. It can be gratitude. It can be silence. It can be wonder. It can be a whispered prayer in the middle of a busy day. It can be choosing to pause before rushing ahead. It can be letting Jesus speak before we speak for Him.

When worship comes first, everything else flows with more grace, more joy, and more clarity. Revival begins not with doing more for Christ, but with being more with Christ.

And what will you do now?

What simple practice could help you revitalize your worship this week?