I Only Need One

I’m not gonna lie, these few weeks have been rough. And all I have to do is look at the faces of anyone I pass in the library to see that we're all going through it right now. But earlier I happened on one of my old journal entries and it encouraged my spirit. Sometimes we are looking everywhere for answers to questions we already learned. It was a season where I was feeling overburdened and overwhelmed and the root of it all was that I was letting the work take the forefront of my identity. I forgot the most basic principle: Keep the first things first. If you’re feeling like you’re gonna run out of fuel or already drained I hope this post can encourage you. First read these two passages.

Luke 10:38-42

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

and Lamentations 3:23-24

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

The Creator of life is also the sustainer of life. God does not leave us on an island. He never leaves us or forsakes us. He is our sustenance, our portion, our bread and butter. He is our essential commodity. He is more dependable than the money we spend or the gravity that hold us to the ground. There is nothing that He has not created or defeated. That’s why I trust Him when He says, “Do not fear.”

Those who seek their portion first are those who run after God with abandon. As I was graduating high school my dad gave me some rules to live by and the second one was this: Don’t be distracted. To walk on the straight and narrow requires laser focus. Don’t look to the left or to the right because your future is forward and upward. Those who seek their portion first will not be distracted by things that are not for you. Those that seek their portion first will not be pulled away by their doubts, fear, insecurities, anger, their worldly responsibilities, or weaknesses. It’s an automatic. Period. Seek first your savior. Seek first your fuel. Seek first your anointing. Seek first the kingdom and ALL these things will be added to you. His essence is essential. His presence is providence. You only need one. You only need the One. Now is the time where the going gets tough. But I’m glad my God is tougher. And He’s the only thing I need.