I served as the head coach of a Christian professional soccer team for 18 consecutive years. Throughout my tenure, it was my responsibility to invest spiritually in the young men on the team. In addition to coaching, I took on several other roles—raising funds for our organization, promoting our ministry, and developing our leadership team. As any coach knows, we wear many hats. For several years, I had only a part-time assistant, which meant that most of these responsibilities fell squarely on my shoulders.

The weight of these duties grew heavy, and over time, my quiet times with God became increasingly ineffective. I was constantly distracted, consumed with thoughts of how to do everything better. By the end of those seasons, I felt completely burned out—spiritually dry and drained. I had lost my connection with my power source, the Holy Spirit.

By God’s grace, a mentor challenged me to spend more time in Scripture and in prayer. Slowly, those dry seasons began to transform into times of spiritual refreshment. God’s Word replenished my soul, and I rediscovered the deep, sustaining strength that only a relationship with Jesus can provide. There is truly no substitute for a daily quiet time with Him. He is our only true source of strength.

Scripture Reading: Luke 10:38-42 NLT

“As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.’ But the Lord answered 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.’”

Reflection:

In life, we often get so caught up in doing good things that we lose sight of what is best. This is beautifully illustrated in the Gospel of Luke, when Jesus visits Mary and Martha. Martha, in her desire to make everything perfect for Jesus, becomes preoccupied with all the preparations: cooking, cleaning, setting the table. Meanwhile, her sister, Mary, sits at Jesus’ feet, intently listening to His every word.

The tasks that Martha was doing were important. There’s nothing wrong with hospitality or serving others. But the problem arose because Martha was so consumed with “doing” that she missed out on the most important thing—spending time with Jesus and deepening her relationship with Him. Sound familiar? We, too, can get so caught up in the demands of life and ministry that we forget to pause and sit at the feet of Jesus, allowing Him to nurture and transform us.

In verse 42, when Jesus says, “only one thing is needed,” He is emphasizing the priority of spending time with God and cultivating a deep, personal relationship with Him. Taking the time to be quiet before God, to read His Word, and to listen for His voice is essential for our spiritual growth.

In our busy lives, it’s easy to be distracted by the demands around us. But we must remind ourselves daily to set aside our busyness and prioritize time with the Master. Only then can we continue growing into the image of Christ and experience the true strength and peace He offers.

Mark Steffens – Coaching On Mission with Missionary Athletes International