Once upon a time, there was a man headed to his friend's house as the honored guest, but on the way to that house, he stopped at another house. At the first house, a great dinner was prepared for him and he ate to his fullest content. He left that house happy and satisfied.
He arrived at his original destination and found that, to his surprise, there was also a meal prepared for him there, as well.
In his mind, he thought: "How will I ever be able to eat this? I just ate to my satisfaction only moments ago, but I've arrived here and the woman of the house has prepared ALL of my favorite foods. 😬 The research was done and the table is completely spread before me, but I am literally full from what I've already had. Had I known, I would've much rather waited, but I didn't know and I'm here now... I imagine, I will have to stuff this meal down now, too. There’s no way I can let it go to waste! It may present complications later, but who would ever pass up a meal prepared specifically with their best interest in mind? I mean, let's be real."
I could imagine the woman of that house who prepared such a special meal for the man finding out he had just eaten after researching and preparing for hours. With great offense to her tone, she might've said, "Whatchu mean you already ate?!"
(...clearly she's a "sister") lol.
Does this story sound familiar? No? Mirror check.
It's like I can hear God asking the same question... "What do you mean you already ate?! Did you not know that if I invited you, I would prepare for you?"
😟...
How often do we get full on other things before we ever even get to God? Are we even aware that He has ALL we want and is just waiting for us to come to Him so that we can receive all He has for us?
Or why is it that we keep asking for more of Him... we pray, cry and scream in desperation when we actually DO KNOW that God is the ultimate satisfaction, but sometimes think that He is withholding Himself from us?
Why do we feel like it’s necessary to go into self-preservation mode. Why can’t we just trust that God has all we want and if He doesn’t give us something, it’s because His timing is not our timing and/or He has something better? 🤔
Read John 4:1-30
In John 4, Jesus encountered a woman who had been TRYING so hard to satisfy herself over and over again. Unfortunately, men were her fillers and those fillers were never enough. She had been married 5 times already and it left her DESPERATELY AND DANGEROUSLY wanting some thing more… On top of that, she filled herself on things that didn’t last! Things that held no weight and no real honor to the commitment.
I mean, what a disaster. It’s like drugs. One taste seems so good, but requiring more each time to satisfy the desire, resulting in addiction and creating an astronomical amount of other problems.
But then came Jesus Christ. 🙌🏾 He had LIVING water and He wanted so badly for her to receive it so that, she would thirst no more and her longing would be satisfied.
“Jesus replied, 'Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.'” - John 4:13-14 NLT
The woman at the well so badly wanted not to have to go back to those unfulfilling places (relationships) she had been going to, that there was not even a hint of an argument. She begged Him for that water... and there, she was filled.
All I'm really saying is that JESUS is THE ONLY one that can satisfy our wants and needs. We must empty ourselves and stop allowing our temples to get full of dirty water...
What's considered dirty? Anything that pollutes our lives.
I was talking to my mentor one day a while ago and this is how the conversation went:
Mentor: I was watching you sing the other day and as you cried out for more of God, I sensed that you were in such a desperate place.
Me: Yes, because I am.
Mentor: Well, why do you think that is?
Me: Because I LONG to have a life changing, overwhelming encounter with God that changes me and fills these voids... but for some reason I haven't had that yet.
Mentor: So, if the Lord doesn't withhold any good thing from us, then why do you think you haven't been able to receive more of Him?
“For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” - Psalms 84:11 NLT
Me: umm... 💬 I don't know.
Mentor: *Opens the cabinets and pulls out 3 glasses that are equally-sized and a bowl. He stands one empty glass up inside of the bowl. Then fills the other two glasses with water.
Me: *intensely focused in*
Mentor: *He pours the full glass of tap water into the empty glass and it becomes full to the brim. He said, "That was you." Then, as He tried to pour the water into the same glass... The glass began to overflow into the bowl.*
Me: 😔 *it finally clicked*
Mentor: Trin, God can't fill you if you're already full. You need to empty yourself in order to get more. AND - if you want to go a step further, imagine that first glass being full of dirty water...
BOOOYYY, that thang HIT ME! As my foot had just gotten stuck in my mouth, I became intensely uncomfortable for the next few minutes and deep in thought as the reality of the truth had just hit me like a ton of bricks.
I hadn't fully surrendered! 😞 I had been holding PLAN B's in my heart as if God couldn't and wasn't going to come through. He didn't give me the boyfriend, husband, attention, affection, or even the success that I coveted... So I filled that void with "temporaries".
Friends, I was a wreck! I am just now figuring out how to forgive past hurts, let go of all those dirty, yet desirable fillers (dirty water) and let God (the purified, LIVING water) spring up a well in me!
Side Note: I want to speak to that last part I said about the things I had coveted. Don't envy others. I know that we live in a world where social media, in some cases, does more harm than good. Everyone is broadcasting all of their "successes", whether it is a job or relationship, etc. and it makes room for so much comparison. We have to make sure the motives of our heart's desire isn't just wanting something because someone else has it.
“You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.” - Exodus 20:17 NLT
“Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.” - Galatians 6:4 NLT
“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” - Joshua 1:8 NLT
Let us learn to be grateful for the things that God has given us! We have to learn to count OUR own blessings!!!
Be free from all that comparison, stuff! Focus on what God is doing in and through YOU. 🙌🏾
Anyways, back to springing up a well...
The question that we have to ask ourselves is this: Have I emptied myself so God can fill me up? Have I really submitted to His plan and do I trust that He's got my best interest at heart?? 💭
BOTTOM LINE
God has invited us to drink from His living well, but if we're already full there's no room to receive Him.
It's like going on a vacation and packing your suitcase to the brim. How do you expect to bring home souvenirs, gifts, & anything else you may want if there's no room? 🤔
We must do whatever it takes to rid our temples of the pollution of fleshly desires and prepare ourselves to receive more of Him.
Make sure to talk with God today and take time to pray this prayer...
Listen To: Empty Me
Artist: William Murphy
Album: The Sound
Here's another GREAT song that will help put things in perspective for you. Be blessed, today. Love y'all!
Listen To: So Good (Live)
Artist: Covenant Worship
Album: Take Heart (Live)