June 14 - FILLED to OVERFLOWING

T O D A Y ' S   Q U E S T I O N

How can I be filled ... and overflow?

 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

The Doxology

 

Yesterday we dealt with the "indwelling" of the Holy Spirit.

 

According to St. Paul, as soon as we believe, "You ... are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you." Some people call this "being filled" with the Spirit. But it's more helpful to reserve the word "filled" for additional spiritual gifting!!! 

 

One of my favorite old phrases is Jimmy Dean's, "I'm drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed."

 

Overflow is the measure of being filled with the Spirit. Therefore, the question is: Are you overflowing with ...

 

Love, Joy, AND Peace?

Patience, Kindness, AND Self Control?

Acts of Service AND Generosity?

Hope? Mercy? Humbleness?

Forgiveness?!!!

 

If we're honest, most of us score about a 70. We have some peace, and we love those who love us, but quite truthfully, we can name a few too many people that we really can't forgive. Most of us are too tired and busy to serve too often, and there are a few too many ways in which we lack self-control. We have the Spirit, but some days it feels like more Spirit is evaporating from our cups than is being poured in.

 

Therefore, are you like me? The Spirit indwells us, but we're ready to be filled more fully and begin to see the overflow!

 

Here, then, are the first two steps:

1.    Pray to be filled more fully.

1b.  Pray some more.

1c.  Keep praying.

1d.  Pray that God will begin opening your heart for greater filling.

 

2.    And while you're at it ... make sure your prayer includes lots of praise. (Why? Because praise points up, while life continuously tries to draw us down.)

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants to start the overflow

by praising God from whom all blessings flow