That Place...

I find that I spend and have spent most of my time giving... giving time, money, energy, ideas, love, an ear, food, clothes, pieces of myself, encouragement, a word, a card, a ride, a hug, a kiss, a bath, a second chance, a drink, a bite, another chance, forgiveness, my heart.... just giving.  We get tired, we get abused, taken advantage of, and sometimes just plain used up.  Don't be discouraged, because giving is definitely not a bad thing.  We have to be careful of what we give, who we give it to, our motives for giving and the condition it's in when we give it.

 Let me be transparent and say sometimes I've given with the wrong motives and ended up giving away valuable and precious pieces of myself to people I KNOW God never intended to have them (that was for me.. it might help somebody else, but it was for me).  I've wasted so much time giving my heart to people instead of giving it to God and making the people go through Him to find me.  You'll get that later.. let it sink in.  Anywho, we all have times where we're required to give of ourselves for another person's benefit.  The biggest thing is to examine what place you're giving from.

It's never been God's intention for us to give or minister out of a place that's not whole to begin with. But we do it all the time!  Knowing our heart is still broken we try to move on and enter into a relationship, we go forth in ministry knowing our character doesn't match our gifts, we try to love our brothers and sister while we're really full of anger and hurt, we try to live above our means while we're robbing God, we keep dabbling in things we know we shouldn't when God is chasing after us and calling us by name.  If we allow Him to, God will fill every void, heal every wound, handle every shortcoming,  fill every place that's low or running on fumes.

My pastor gives a very simple and easy to understand illustration of how God fills us with His spirit... You have a bottle of water that has some water in it.  The water represents the Holy Ghost (God's Spirit).. As you spend more time with God, study His word, pray and fast, seek God... He fills you.. so more water goes into the bottle...a little here, a little there, some more over here.. until the bottle is full.  At this point the vessel (you) is full of the Holy Spirit but you continue to to fellowship and have relationship with God and He keeps filling you until you're in a place of overflow (the water spills out).

God's intention is for us to give and minister from a place of overflow and abundance... that every aspect of our lives would be so full and overflowing with Him and His glory that no area is in lack.  When we give from this place the motives are right, the intentions are pure and God gets the glory, not us.  We can love like we've never been hurt...We can forgive the worst things because we know God has forgiven us...We can be kind and gentle in the face of anger...We can honor God with our giving...We can flow in our purpose and destiny knowing that it is truly the way God intended it to be and not what the enemy has turned it into. 

Matt. 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

If we can do this... everything we need is already done.  It says ALL THESE THINGS.... what things do you need added??  Whatever it is that you need to give, God will give you a greater capacity for that thing... He'll add it to you... do you need more love, peace, joy, health, strength, laughter, whatever it is... let Him give it to you first, not people... and when you give from His abundance...

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38