Striking the Right Balance: Spiritual Devotion and Prioritizing Choices

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In the scriptural story of Mary and Martha, we learn the importance of balancing spiritual matters with everyday tasks. By making wise choices and prioritizing what is truly important, we can dedicate ourselves to spiritual growth while still attending to necessary but less critical responsibilities. The examples of Mary, who chose the better part by sitting at the Lord's feet, and Martha, who was cumbered with serving, remind us to focus on what is best in our pursuits. Through thoughtful decision-making and aligning our priorities with spiritual guidance, we aim to follow Christ daily and choose the good part that enriches our lives. This message is beautifully conveyed through various reflections and teachings shared in the content.

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Luke 10:3840 Define cumbered How can we be devoted to spiritual matters and still take care of needful but less important things?

Mary and Martha As we consider various choices, we should remember that it is not enough that something is good. Other choices are better, and still others are best. Consider how we use our time in the choices we make in viewing television, playing video games, surfing the Internet, or reading books or magazines. Of course it is good to view wholesome entertainment or to obtain interesting information. But not everything of that sort is worth the portion of our life we give to obtain it. Some things are better, and others are best ( Good, Better, Best, 104 5).

Principles Interrogation techniques Prolonged exertion Subjection to noise Deprivation of sleep Deprivation of food and drink

Mary and Martha The Savior responded to Martha by commending her sister s choice. When Martha complained, she allowed herself to inaccurately view the Lord as uncaring. If we allow our priorities to become twisted, we may begin to have thoughts or feelings toward the Lord that are spiritually unhealthy. Jesus s gentle rebuke was designed to help Martha reconsider her priorities and seek the blessings He lovingly desired her to receive. (New Testament Student Manual[Church Educational System manual, 2014], 160).

Sister BonnieD. Parkin The Savior s response strikingly clarified what mattered most. On that evening in Martha s home, the good part was not in the kitchen; it was at the Lord s feet. Dinner could wait. We all are trying to choose the good part which cannot be taken from us, to balance the spiritual and the temporal in our lives. Wouldn t it be easy if we were choosing between visiting teaching or robbing a bank? Instead, our choices are often more subtle. We must choose between many worthy options. One thing is needful, to follow Him each day. Choose ye therefore Christ the Lord. Choose to feast upon His word. Choose to trust in Him above. Choose to wait upon His love. Choose to give Him all your heart. Choose ye therefore that good part ( Choosing Charity: That Good Part, Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2003, 104, 106).

Brigham Young In my experience I never did let an opportunity pass of getting with the Prophet Joseph and of hearing him speak in public or in private, so that I might draw understanding from the fountain from which he spoke, that I might have it and bring it forth when it was needed. ... In the days of the Prophet Joseph, such moments were more precious to me than all the wealth of the world. No matter how great my poverty-if I had to borrow meal to feed my wife and children, I never let an opportunity pass of learning what the Prophet had to impart" (in Journal of Discourses, 12:269- 70)." ("Wisdom and Order," Ensign, June 1994, 42)

Luke 11: Teach us to Pray What do you tell someone when they feel their prayers aren t being answered? Luke 11:5 13 Principles of prayer.

Jake, the rancher, went one day to fix a distant fence. The wind was cold and gusty and the clouds rolled gray and dense, As he pounded the last nail in and gathered tools to go. The temperature had fallen and the snow began to blow. When he finally reached his pickup, he felt a heavy heart, from the sound of that ignition, he knew it wouldn't start.

So Jake did what most of us do if we'd have been there. He humbly bowed his head and sent aloft a prayer. As he turned the key for the last time, he softly cursed his luck. They found him three days later, frozen stiff in that old truck. Now Jake had been around in life and done his share of roamin'. But when he saw Heaven, he was shocked -- it look just like Wyomin'.

So he went to heaven, And met good Saint Peter. "I've always heard," Jake said to Pete, "that God will answer prayers, But one time I asked for help, well He, just plain wasn't there. Does God answer prayers of some, and ignores the prayers of others?

Now I ain't trying to act smart, it's just the way I feel, And I was wonderin', could you tell -- what the heck's the deal? Peter listened very patiently and when Jake was done, There were smiles of recognition, That day your truck, it wouldn't start, and you sent your prayer a flying, You gave us all a real bad time, with hundreds of us a trying.

A thousand angels rushed to help But we hadn't heard from you in quite a while And though all prayers are answered, and God ain't got no quota, He didn't recognize your voice, and started a truck in North Dakota.

Scripture Study Tips Relevancy in personal study Today s Tip: Study the Doctrine deeply and thoroughly

Luke 11: Teach us to Pray Doctrines associated with prayer Does God care what words we use? Can you change God s mind through prayer? What is the purpose of prayer? Bible Dictionary (pg 753) Is it OK to pray over everything? Is there anything we shouldn t pray for? What about praying out loud? What little things do you do to make prayers more meaningful? Making it mighty prayer?

Luke 11: Teach us to Pray Electrical power strips can take a single outlet and turn it into 6 or 8 or 12 outlets. You plug the strip into an outlet and it takes one source of power and turns it into many. My electrical powerstripin my bedroom runs our phone, TV, computer, monitors, printer and speakers. We ve taken a single source of power and, through the use of the power strip, made it provide power to 7 different devices. Prayer is kindalike a powerstrip. We take The Source, our Heavenly Father, and tap into his power and through Him, we have power to help friends, power to improve our health, power to succeed at work or at school, power with family, and power in our marriage.

Luke 11: Teach us to Pray Prayer. Prayer activates gods will kinda like filling out a withdrawal form from a previously funded bank account. Are national anthems as to football games as prayer is to your life? Prayer is like TV. The receiver box doesn't create the programs. It aligns the tv with the programming. James 5:16-18 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

How many different types of prayer are there?

Pouring out prayers Hannah (1 Samuel), who wanted a child: fret, provoked, grieved, afflicted and complain. She pours out her whole soul before the Lord (see1 Samuel 1:15). And when it s poured out, there is room for God to pour in. If you don t pour out, God can t pour back in.

Prayer of action and belief 1 Kings 11, when the prophet Ahijahstops Jeroboam and tears Jeroboam s new garment into 12 pieces, each one representing the 12 tribes of Israel. Ahijah gave 10 pieces back to Jeroboam with the promise that if he was obedient, he would rule the kingdom as would his children. Unfortunately, things didn t turn out well for Jeroboam. Remember the 10-piece promises, don t have fear, and act in faith.

Wrestling prayers Enos shares his wrestle with words such as my soul hungered, "supplication," "feel a desire," "pour out my soul," "struggling," "labored" and "diligence." This is intense effort into what he s doing.

Prayer of desire Sometimes it s when only a few or no words are needed, and just being filled with love. I always feel I need to talk in prayer do you? Be familiar with him; act and believe and enjoy those moments of quiet when no words are necessary.

Petitioning in prayer has taught me that the vault of heaven with all its blessings is to be opened only by a combination lock. One tumbler falls when there is faith. A second when there is personal righteousness; The third and final tumbler falls only when what is sought is God s will Elder Maxwell, Insights, New Era, Apr. 1978, 6

Sometimes we pound on the vault door for something we want very much and wonder why the door does not open. We would be very spoiled children if that vault door opened any more easily that it does. I can tell, looking back, that God truly loves me by inventorying the petitions He has refused to grant me. Our rejected petitions tell us much about ourselves but also much about our flawless Father Elder Maxwell, Insights, New Era, Apr. 1978, 6

Luke 12: What to Seek Luke 12:16 21(note the words Iandmy). What matters most is what lasts longest (Elder M. Russell Ballard). Luke 12:22 34What to seek. In what ways can we seek to bring forth God s kingdom?