What’s Overflowing in You?
I set up the coffee pot, hit start, and walked away. Just like I’ve done every day for the past umpteen years.
When I returned to the kitchen a few minutes later, I heard the hiss of the overflowing liquid hit the hot plate and the drip, splat, splash of coffee flowing off the counter and onto the floor.
Arrgh!
Since my coffee carafe is metal, I hadn’t noticed—as I would had it been glass—that it was already half full of coffee from the night before. I’d brewed a new pot on top of the cold pot—ruining both pots!
I had a mess to clean up and no coffee!
As I fussed and mopped and grumbled and wiped, God whispered something in my ear that stopped me…
There’s no room for Me to pour My fresh stuff in you if you’re already full of yourself.
Ouch.
Ungodly substitutes
It had been a while since I’d spent any time in prayer. My Bible lay dust covered on the bed stand.
I couldn’t remember the last time I had paid attention in church or spent time in community with women who loved the Lord and studied the Bible together.
That lack of connection was showing up in my behavior and demeanor. I was often irritable and easily discouraged.
I finished cleaning up the coffee.
Then I sat and had a good long conversation with God, confessing how I’d filled myself with everything other than him and promising to make a change.
We are supposed to be filled daily by God.
The Holy Spirit longs to lead, direct, teach, and correct (John 14:26) but when we don’t spend time in his Word or connect with him though prayer, we fill up on ungodly substitutes.
That’s what had happened to me. I filled up by accomplishing tasks that made me feel important.
But it can be so many other things. Do you find yourself…
- Making unnecessary purchases to feel fulfilled?
- Dulling the ache of emptiness with alcohol or pills or busyness?
- Redirecting the attention of your pain with cutting or self-flagellation?
- Filling the dry hollow with the attention or affirmation of men?
Emptying yourself
When we fill ourselves we leave no room for God to pour into us.
In Psalm 23, the psalmist David tells us that the LORD overflows us with God’s love, mercy, and righteousness, not our own self-sufficiency, idols, and busyness.
If you’re ready to…
- find joy in the midst of difficult circumstances
- pray with expectancy
- and live in expectation of God’s goodness shining on you…
…then empty yourself of everything that hinders God from filling you to overflowing with his presence. And let your cup overflow!
What are some things you might need to empty out in order for God to overflow in you? Leave me a comment. I’d love to hear.
Verse:
“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” —Psalm 23:5–6
Prayer:
God, I long for you to fill me. Guide me and give me wisdom on what I need to empty myself of so that I can be filled to overflowing with you. Amen.
I’ve done the forgotten coffee pot thing several times, usually when I am stressed! And as much as I love to read, I will do almost anything else other than sit and read the Bible, gahh.
Have you tried a dramatized audio version? It’s like listening to a radio drama. Just a thought.
Thanks for the reminder. I need to be emptied of fear, doubt, and self loathing so God can fill me up with His Holy Spirit. I need to turn the TV off and get off my phone so that time can be spent being in His presence.