Verse of the week -- James 4:2,3
Come empty. I have heard those words repeated continually this past week. Sometimes whispered by a still small voice, sometimes through a song, some days through a verse of Scripture, but continually, repetitively, gently . . . come empty.
Empty?
How about with my talents? No. Empty.
With a general outline? No. Empty.
With some limitations? No. Empty.
With some successes? No. Empty.
With some security? No. Empty.
With some self-confidence? No. Empty.
With a few expectations? No. Empty.
Really empty, completely empty. That's how He wants me to come. Raw material for Him to create and mold and fill.
The good news is, He can still fill me even when I don't come empty. He doesn't fill with a trickle, He fills with the fire house and washes everything else out anyway. It might be more painful that way, but we will still be filled.
With this on my mind I came across James 4:2,3, "2You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.."
When we come with our own agenda, we don't receive the same blessing. We often ask to satisfy ourselves -- our wants, expectations, schedules, talents, interests, pride, successes.
I want to come to Him empty, and let Him fill me and my day as He sees fit.
I need to bring Him all of my day. Not just my quiet moments, or my blog posts, or my easy times. If I don't bring Him an empty cup, I miss out.
And, if I only bring some parts of my life empty I miss out. Remember the widow in I Kings 17 with the jars of oil? Every jar she brought, God filled with oil. If she brought less, He would have filled less. If she brought more, He would have filled more. I want to bring every "jar" I can find in my life for Him to fill. The less I bring, and the more I try to fill things on my own, the less room for Him in my life.
He may still work, but I will probably continue on oblivious to His working. He may still fill, but I might miss the overflowing blessings right in my hands. When I come emptied of myself, I come expectantly. Awaiting His working, His filling, His expectations, His agenda, His successes, His message, His growth, Him, and all He has to offer.
Lord, You have the perfect plan, the perfect perspective, the perfect power. You know the best for each minute of each day. Help me to come empty, with each part of my life an empty vessel for You to fill. ~Amen
Empty?
How about with my talents? No. Empty.
With a general outline? No. Empty.
With some limitations? No. Empty.
With some successes? No. Empty.
With some security? No. Empty.
With some self-confidence? No. Empty.
With a few expectations? No. Empty.
Really empty, completely empty. That's how He wants me to come. Raw material for Him to create and mold and fill.
The good news is, He can still fill me even when I don't come empty. He doesn't fill with a trickle, He fills with the fire house and washes everything else out anyway. It might be more painful that way, but we will still be filled.
With this on my mind I came across James 4:2,3, "2You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.."
When we come with our own agenda, we don't receive the same blessing. We often ask to satisfy ourselves -- our wants, expectations, schedules, talents, interests, pride, successes.
I want to come to Him empty, and let Him fill me and my day as He sees fit.
I need to bring Him all of my day. Not just my quiet moments, or my blog posts, or my easy times. If I don't bring Him an empty cup, I miss out.
And, if I only bring some parts of my life empty I miss out. Remember the widow in I Kings 17 with the jars of oil? Every jar she brought, God filled with oil. If she brought less, He would have filled less. If she brought more, He would have filled more. I want to bring every "jar" I can find in my life for Him to fill. The less I bring, and the more I try to fill things on my own, the less room for Him in my life.
He may still work, but I will probably continue on oblivious to His working. He may still fill, but I might miss the overflowing blessings right in my hands. When I come emptied of myself, I come expectantly. Awaiting His working, His filling, His expectations, His agenda, His successes, His message, His growth, Him, and all He has to offer.
Lord, You have the perfect plan, the perfect perspective, the perfect power. You know the best for each minute of each day. Help me to come empty, with each part of my life an empty vessel for You to fill. ~Amen
2You desire and do not have, so you murder.
You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.
You do not have, because you do not ask.
3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly,
to spend it on your passions.
You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.
You do not have, because you do not ask.
3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly,
to spend it on your passions.
~James 4:2,3~
Comments
Preached on the passage where David's mighty men get him a drink from the well at Bethlehem at the risk of their lives.....and David poors it out unto the Lord. The message being we pour our work out.....unto Him. Unless the Lord builds the house they labour in vain that build it. True in church work OR our homes. AWESOME