On Sunday morning, I stood in church singing a song I had never heard before.
My husband was on one side of me. My daughter stood on the other. Close friends filled the seats next to us. As the music began, I found myself listening carefully to the lyrics of a song called Center by Bethel Music.
And somewhere in the middle of that moment, my heart became still.
The song is beautifully simple. It points again and again to one central truth: Jesus belongs at the center. Not on the edges of our lives. Not squeezed into whatever space remains after we’ve attended to our schedules, responsibilities, ambitions, worries, and distractions. At the center.
As I sang those words, I was reminded how easy it is to slowly drift from that reality without even realizing it.
Choosing the Better Thing
We strive. We perform. We exhaust ourselves trying to earn what has already been freely given. Somewhere along the way, many of us begin carrying a burden that Jesus never asked us to carry. We start measuring our faith by our output rather than by our relationship with Him.
In the song there is a reference to two well-known sisters found in scripture, Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38–42). Mary sat at the feet of Jesus – present, attentive, and centered on the One thing that mattered most in that moment. While Martha was busy managing all the details around her, Mary was fully occupied with the person in front of her.
The lyrics remind us:
Teach us to discern the moment
When to serve and when to sit here at Your feet
Keep us awake to what’s important
Just like Mary chose the better thing
Before we ever loved Him, He loved us. Before we ever sought Him, He was pursuing us. Before we ever did anything for Him, we belonged to Him. The foundation was already laid before we took our first step toward Him. His love was never contingent on our performance, and His presence was never earned through our effort.
I hope that I will consistently have the discernment, courage, and focus to always choose the better thing.
Irreplaceable Gifts
As I stood there surrounded by people I love, I felt overwhelmed by God’s kindness and the gifts he so generously gives (James 1:17).
Not flashy gifts. Not the kind that earns applause or attracts attention. Simple gifts. A healthy marriage. Children rooted in faith. Friends who have become family. A Sunday morning spent worshiping together. The kinds of gifts that are easy to overlook but impossible to replace.
The world might overlook these things because they don’t generate headlines, but I am increasingly convinced they are part of the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10). Not abundance measured by accumulation, achievement, or recognition. Rather, abundance measured by presence, gratitude, and a growing understanding of what matters most.
The most beautiful parts of life are not found in adding more. They are found in properly centering what matters most.
