Yesterday morning, I was filling this bucket up under the faucet and- because I was still fighting morning-grog, I didn’t even think to take the cup out of it first.
But what happened quickly caught my eye, and it gave me a lot to think about since then.
You see, providentially that cup came to rest directly under the faucet, and it was filled with water first- and then as it remained under the faucet it began to overflow into the bucket. Until soon the bucket too was overflowing, the water unable to be contained!
And this is what God said to my heart:
You have 𝓅ℯ𝓇𝓂𝒾𝓈𝓈𝒾ℴ𝓃 to simply stand under my faucet, you know.
You have permission to not just prioritize time with me because you want to keep first things first and obey me (which you do), but simply because I say you’re allowed the 𝓅𝓁ℯ𝒶𝓈𝓊𝓇ℯ of that time with me.
Even when you’re busy and you feel like you should be getting a big list of tasks done. — You have permission to maintain a “cup worth” of pleasure time- with me- and when you allow me to fill you in that little bit of time, my energy will overflow through you and into the things you need to do. You’ll do them with ease.
Conversely, if you try to be martyrish and do all the things and meet everyone else’s needs first — it’ll feel like the time you got dry socket after having your wisdom teeth removed. You’ll be in pain, and you’ll be a grouch. (Oh boy can I attest this is true!) Margin-for-𝓅𝓁ℯ𝒶𝓈𝓊𝓇ℯ-time-with-Me is like the membrane that protects your nerves from the outer world. 🤯
It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity.
And when you don’t take it you are starving yourself- which means that you are going out into your circles- into the “buckets” I’ve placed you in— hangry. And that’s not doing anyone a favor. No matter how many other helpful things you are doing for them.
So- you have 𝓅ℯ𝓇𝓂𝒾𝓈𝓈𝒾ℴ𝓃 to block off our pleasure-time, even when you’re asked to meet with or minister to someone else.
And I know that maybe sounds mean.
But here’s the thing— even Jesus didn’t respond to every request for His time.
He couldn’t.
He was human.
So why are you trying to be super-human?
Are you more capable than Jesus?
(And also, if you meet everyone’s need, all the time, why would they even go looking for Me?
They wouldn’t need My help.
They’ve got to learn how to place their own selves directly under My faucet too.
They’ll get much more filled up from Me-
the faucet-
than they would having you pour portions from your cup.)
——
This is not the typical “you can’t pour from an empty cup” message… neither is it the new “you CAN pour from empty with His help” either…
The truth is we CAN,
but whenever possible we shouldn’t.
Just like we CAN pull an all-nighter and skip sleep, but whenever possibly we shouldn’t-
because we will destroy your bodies.
Pulling long stints of time away from the 𝓅𝓁ℯ𝒶𝓈𝓊𝓇ℯ of His presence, will dry up and destroy our souls.
When we set aside and protect some time first – to savor Him – (even if that means we have to get up in the wee hours like Jesus did, to be alone)- that’s when the springs of living water are turned on over us…and that’s when we will simply overflow.
I can always tell when I’m doing this.
And even more clearly when I’m not.
The other truth is- this will cost us something.
I don’t know who said the best things in life are free. They are, but also- they’re not. They have an opportunity cost.
Taking time for one thing / one relationship will always remove it from something or someone else.
Facing this breaks down our pride.
We must recognize:
He is God, and we are not.
We can’t be everywhere, do everything, or please everyone.
But we can do more and be more pleasant when we take time- and insist on maintaining that margin- to get filled up, with Him.
Remember- quality is better than quantity.
I’m coming to find I’d rather give someone an hour of me at my best (Spirit-filled and well), than five hours of my time when I’m dried up and hangry and at my worst and only have myself to give instead of His love.
Will I ever perfect this?
I’m sure I will not.
But the more I walk with Him the more quickly I am affected when I begin to dry up, and the more quickly I respond to those indicators that I need to correct course. ❤️
From Full 