Pouring from an empty cup
Two ordinary red plastic cups sat on a table. One was one-fourth full, the other three-fourth full. Spilled water puddled between them on the table.
A feeling of frustration permeated the scene.
“Daughter, you keep trying to take from one cup and pour it into another. Meanwhile, spilling out the precious contents. You are operating in futility. One cup represents your home life, and the other represents your work life.”
“Lord, I don’t know any other way. I need energy for both things. I feel I have to save or transfer energy to one over the other constantly trying to break even.”
“Stop. Be present in each endeavor. Drink fully of the cup in front of you. Then come to Me for a refill in prayer and thanksgiving for the current moment. Receive, be satisfied, and then pour out to others.
Do not try to give from an empty place no one will benefit.
***
How do we so easily forget to care for ourselves first, before trying to give to others?
We can learn from the flight attendants when they give vital instructions to put the oxygen mask on yourself first before assisting other passengers. If you don’t follow these commands you would lose consciousness and couldn’t help anyone. Taking care of ourselves is a necessity before we can take care of others. We should stop treating our self-care as an afterthought. God desires to refresh us.
No more pouring from an empty cup, we need to seek a refill from the Lord.
After this vision, I asked myself, how would our lives be different if we were fully present in the moment?
And in that moment, we drank from the Lord our full measure before trying to pour out into others.
What would that look like?
Do you take time with the Lord to receive your daily portion? If I’m honest, I eat morsels and move on. I don’t take the time to let them digest.
No wonder I feel half empty all the time. I look at pictures of myself and I indeed look half empty.
I desire to change this pattern I’m going to start now. Do you want to join me? Let’s ask the Lord for help, so we stop pouring from an empty cup.
Prayer for you and me:
Help us, Lord, to linger in Your presence to fully digest Your word and insights. May your wisdom, favor, peace, and strength penetrate our life until it overflows to others. We desire to stop nibbling and instead devour all that you desire to give us. Your will be done in our lives here on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” (Ephesians 1:3)
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21, ESV)
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