The Secret To A Happy Life

     My Bible has a daily devotional in it and just wanted to share what I read today with you.
This one is about Martha and her sister Mary, the sisters of Lazarus.   You can read their story in Luke 10:38-42.

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.
--Deuteronomy 6:5

     Have you, like Martha, sometimes found yourself asking, "Lord, don't you care?"  Do your personal priorities threaten to take precedence over what is better?  When it's clear that your husband (or wife)  has left you to do all the work by yourself--leaving you feeling shut out or left behind-how do you respond?
     Our natural inclination when we're under pressure is to compete, to compare, to blame, to criticize, to demand, or to interrupt- and our husband (or wife) often find himself (herself) directly in the line of fire.  Martha, no doubt, was wholeheartedly going about her business when she reached her stress limit.  But Jesus didn't offer her His sympathy.  Instead, He offered a gentle rebuke.
     Like Martha, our hearts are distracted and weighed down by many worthwhile things--concerns about family and friends, daily work responsibilities, church-related duties, financial needs--as well as by our own ongoing thoughts, judgements, and self-talk.  Looking to our Lord's peace and inviting His love to reign in our hearts relieves hurt, eases weariness, and sets our feet back on solid ground.  This is not an easy task by any means; when fatigue sets in, harsh words erect barriers and marital tension mounts.  But given the alternative, what kind of life together would you truly prefer?...
      Yielding our heart and mind to the Holy Spirit's direction transforms our whole outlook.  The more we pay attention to our Shepherd's gentle reproof and trustworthy guidance, the less we find ourselves worrying about the things that don't matter....
     Taking the time to slow down long enough to talk to God and delight in the joy of His sweet presence--wherever we are, regardless of what we are doing, whether it's doing the dishes or driving to the store or stuttling the school car pool or preparing for an important meeting--can quiet our hearts and minds like nothing else.  This is where we find the hidden strength that can never be taken away from us.
--Debra Evans (in parentheses is mine)
From Blessing Your Husband