Full to Overflowing

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If your life were a glass, how would you describe it?

It’s amazing how two different people can go through the same experiences yet have completely different outlooks on their situation. Having a ‘glass half full’ perspective (rather than half empty) is a great start, but the truth is that it is still short of what God has for us—which is a glass overflowing!

In Psalm 23:5, David wrote something very counter-intuitive:
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

Here he was in the presence of enemies, yet he celebrated the generosity of God toward him. In fact the whole psalm is a beautiful eye-opener to the reality that God is infinitely bigger than any challenge we might face, and that he is always there ready to comfort, provide and give strength—no matter what comes our way.

David knew firsthand the abounding and overflowing nature of God’s presence, provision, protection and power. He knew that the blessings he had received weren’t just for him to enjoy but to spill over to bless others.

The reason David could say this with such great confidence is because he had seen God at work in his life over and over again. Were there times when he was tired? Yes. Scared? Undoubtedly. But he clearly had a deep confidence that the Lord not only can supply what he needed, but also in abundance even in the midst of difficult times when things seemed to be out of control.

before we can be filled to overflowing, we must be willing to empty ourselves of those things that would hinder the Spirit’s work in our lives

But a cup cannot be filled with milk if it is already filled with mud, something David seemed to understand. Yes he messed up (at times spectacularly) but he also ‘fessed up’ to the things standing in the way of his relationship with God. Similarly, before we can be filled to overflowing, we must be willing to empty ourselves of those things that would hinder the Spirit’s work in our lives—like sin, pride, and self-will. It is only when our hearts are filled with God that we can accomplish all He desires to do in and through us.

During our recent Visionathon we spent quite a bit of time highlighting Ephesians 3:20 which reminds us that God is able to do “infinitely far more than we could ask, think or imagine”, which is absolutely true… but the scripture goes on to say that it is also “according to his power at work within us”.

If we really want to see revival in the heart of every Australian, let’s determine that 2022 will be a year where we throw off more of those things that hinder, and the sin that so easily entangles, so we can run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, as Hebrews 12 encourages.