What’s Filling Your Pot?
I was tired. Oh so tired.
Walking into a crowded sanctuary that Friday night, I gazed around the room looking for a seat at our yearly women’s conference. At home, my sweet husband, although tired from a long work week, stayed to watch my two teething, irritable girls. After visiting with a few ladies, I sank into my seat and pushed thoughts of bedtime to the back of my head.
God is so good! He knew exactly what encouragement I needed to get through that weekend. You see, not only was I physically tired from caring for crabby kids, I had begun to neglect the source of true energy and encouragement.
This may be a big assumption, but I doubt I’m the only one who has periods of time where I start to rely on myself for energy, answers, and strength. Why does this happen? Why do we–do I–neglect the Savior of the universe and somehow think that I have the ability to do things by myself?
Remember the first miracle Jesus preformed? He attending a week long wedding celebration that developed a sudden problem. The wine–consumed. The pots–empty. The source for more–nowhere to be found. John 2:5 “His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever He tells you’.” Jesus knew the wine was gone and He knew how to fill those empty pots. And He did! How? By His miraculous power and the obedience of the servants to do what He said.
This weekend, I was empty. My energy was consumed. I wasn’t even looking to be filled! But, God knew what I needed. He reminded me that I must “Do what He tells me”. And what does He want from me? For my gaze to be on Him! He will bless me when I forsake sin and make my delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it day and night (Psalm 1:1-3). This is the means he desires to bless me through!
This means I MUST take time to focus on Christ daily to refill my empty pot–and fill it to the brim. When I obey Christ and spend time in His word, my pot will be filled with joy from Him. Then that joy will overflow to others–my husband, my kids, other people I interact with. It becomes a continuous flow–my filling of God, giving that joy to others, then turning for more of God, then back to give, and the constant cycle continues.
“If you poor yourself out for the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong. And you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.” (Is. 58:10-11)
Who do you pour into daily? Your children? Husband? Neighbors? Co workers? Those you disciple? Are you drawing from your own wisdom and strength to do this? Or are you running to the only source that can fill you up?
Feast on His word daily! Give Him your fears, worries, and anxieties. Bask in His love and goodness. Yearn for more of Him. When you feel yourself growing weary and tired, reach for more of the One who always has more to give. This simple, basic concept remains key to our sanity, ladies!
Remember though, spending time with Jesus doesn’t make God love you more. When God looks at you, if you are His child, He’s sees the perfection of Christ. His love for you is NOT based on how much time you spend with Him. When you fail to have a quiet time, God is NOT disappointed in you. He is, however, disappointed for us. He knows what we’re missing by choosing to rely on ourselves. He knows what we could have and how much more joy and efficiency we can show because of Him.
Have you ever chopped vegetables for dinner with a butter knife? Carrots, broccoli, and onions for stir fry don’t dice easily with such a dull blade. Sure, it can be done, but it’s difficult! When you grab a nice chef blade with a sharp edge, it glides through those veggies in no time. So it is when we spend time with Christ. When we neglect him, our blade is dull. Yes, we can get through our daily interactions and to do list, but when we spend time with our Redeemer and Lord, our focus is on Him. We are then able to glide through our day smoother because He is our strength!
Since that weekend I have had a renewed desire to spend time each morning filling up my pot and sharpening my knife so that I can glide through my day overflowing with love and joy to my kids and others. Does this mean each day has been perfect? NO! But I’m grateful for a God who fills me up so I can serve Him by comforting those cranky, teething young ones.
Monica is married to Matthew and has two adorable little girls Abigail and Aubrey. She can be found writing at A Godly Heritage and is the newest contributor to Desiring Virtue.
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