WRITTEN BY CHERYL WELLS
When the word “overflow” was presented to me as our topic for 2019 I was instantly moved and I knew in my spirit that it was true. I felt drawn in many ways – drawn to think about that word and what it was conjuring up in me. It made me want to just breathe in God and worship. Drawn to what God has for me this year personally, and how He might want for me to write and be a part of communicating this. Years ago I was impacted by this topic through another ministry that we partner with (Youth For Christ USA), and so my mind went to that and the picture that was communicated – a cup that had water flowing into it and it was running over the top.
I would like to introduce this topic for our year and start simply by saying that we can’t give to anybody what we do not have. I can’t give anything to God if I don’t let him fill me up first. I can’t give Him praise and I can’t serve in any way – through my work professionally or any other way that He might call me to love and give, unless it flows out of my relationship with Him. It really is about being a worshiper and spending time in the secret place with Him. It’s about being close to the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. That may sound really elusive (defined as difficult to find, catch or achieve) but that will be part of our goal for this year too. I pray that we will move closer to Jesus by being intentional to spend time with Him through prayer and the Word of God. Not in a legalistic way, but through building relationship with Him – spending time with Him that is foundational.
To give out of overflow is simply about focusing on what’s most important and letting who we are in Christ flow out to everyone and through everything that we do. It’s about what’s under the surface. When what is under the surface is good and is God, then what we do and what we give to others will be good and will be God.
I want to challenge us this month to do this every day. If you miss a day just start over.
I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)
- Start by sitting in a quiet place by yourself and ask God to just come and sit with you. Remain.
- Focus on Him and focus on your breathing Him in and just quiet your mind and your heart.
- Picture that cup that is filling up to the top.
- Ask Jesus to forgive you for making it all about you.
- Ask Him to fill you up and help you to come closer. Be still.
