Happy Friday friends! I’ve got a special treat for you today. My friend Heather Butler is here with a guest post AND a giveaway!
Here’s Heather …
Sometimes I find myself in that sacred place. My heart, mind and body craving more of His spirit, more of His peace and love. And I whisper, “Father, pour into me. I want more of You.”
As much as I love those times, I do have a confession. I have to open my eyes every once in a while because I tend to get dizzy and sway. Falling over the seat in front of me is not the way I’d like to make a new friend or forever be known as, “the chick who fell on that person when Oceans was playing”. I’m not speaking from experience or anything. This is all purely hypothetical.
In those times of worship and prayer, I have noticed that my posture would change involuntarily. I would stretch out my arms and cup my hands in front of me—a physical demonstration of my deep desire to just…receive. Oh how I am sure that Jesus loves those encounters also when His children’s hearts are open and their deepest desire is for more of Him.
One afternoon during a time of worship, I began expressing similar sentiments that I had prayed many times before. “Lord pour into me. I am an empty vessel and my desire is to be filled by You.” As I uttered those words, I envisioned myself as a tall, empty clay container with water being poured into it.
(If you’re a visual person, you may need illustrations and visual aids as much as I do. I think this is why I cannot, for the life of me, assemble any piece of IKEA furniture. The step by step list of instructions having only 3 pictures to assemble an entire entertainment center is simply not enough. Work with me, IKEA!)
Anyway, as I thought about water rushing into that tall clay vessel, it began to fill to the point of overflowing. Water poured out onto the ground forming little streams that ran in every direction.
And I stopped praying. For some reason, the idea of that overflowing vessel was profound to me. I don’t want to simply be a sealed vessel that is poured into until it’s overflowing. I want to be an open container that the Lord’s water flows through straight to others.
Right then I realized, I want cupped hands, but open fingers.
“Father, I do want more of You. I do want to be full. I do want Your blessings. May my hands remain cupped to receive what You have for me and may my fingers stay open to release what You have to give others through me.”
We are entering into a season where many of us think more intentionally about giving thanks for the many forms of blessings God has given to us. I can’t think of a more fitting time for us to also intentionally cup our hands towards heaven and open our fingers wide towards earth.
Jesus, thank You for who You are and for the Life that You readily give to us. We want hearts that beat with desire to be more like Yours. Help us to keep our eyes focused on Your face. And may the blessings and love You pour into our cupped hands also flow freely through our opened fingers. In Jesus’ name, amen.
She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. Proverbs 31:20
Twitter: @FaithDeclared
50 Comments
xxxdoc.monster tattooed cab driver licks busty babe.
“She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.” Proverbs 31:20
The world would be a much improved place if more people took those words to heart.
Loved your devotion this morning. I want to be poured into so I can give out this Christmas season and always……
This is the time to give and love all…..
This has been on my heart this season and I was talking with a friend about this only this morning. It continues to concrete that the thought that I had in my heart is one that I need to follow through with. Thank you for the encouraging words and the great reminder.
Wow…powerful visual. May this be my prayer!
Thank you for sharing your heart! Proverbs 31:20 is a special verse to me because of how God continually pours into me and utilizes others to pour into me and at the same time equips me to do this to others. A circled cycle of love!
Beautiful words! Love the prayer! I want to stay focused on Jesus.
Wow…what a wonderful message for my heart to receive!! Thank you so much for sharing Heather…and for you Nicki…having her on your blog today!
This reminds me of the multiple verses that talk about how the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45 “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” I want my heart to fill up with God and His Word, so that with my mouth I can speak with grace and compassion.
Thank you and God Bless,
~Johanna
Awesome!
She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. Proverbs 31:20
What a wonderful Bible verse! All of us need to read this and remember it! Thank you for sharing it and reminding me that there is always something we can do to help someone who is in need! Even if it is only a prayer! I pray for all those who are experiencing hunger, homelessness, bondage, or illness. Praise the Lord for he is good; his mercy endures forever! Amen!! Amen!!
Realizing this year that part of being an overflowing “vessel” is allowing ourselves to recognize & heal our hearts so we can truly appreciate the love He has poured into us. We cannot sure what we don’t fully receive & appreciate.
Amen. I’m trying so hard to be conscious during this Advent season. And it’s hard! I want to be focused on others and my own heart and mind get in the way so often. However, when I do manage to focus on others-what a blessing it is! Great post.
I love the visual of cupped hands, held high with my fingers open. Precious Lord, flow through me and let your love and light fill others through you working in my life! Thank you Jesus for your wisdom, love, mercy, grace and blessing that are over flowing. Help me to pour the blessing you pour into me into others!
I am a very visual person myself, thank you so much for that visual!
This is my heart at this Christmas season. I don’t want to lose the giving unselfish spirit after the Holiday season…I want it to reach more throughout the year. Help others. Help us. It’s all in our love wrapped in God’s love!!!!
Loved this Heather! Totally resonated in my heart.
Thank you for this sweet visual! It has blessed me today! B
Thank you for the great illustration! 🙂
Thank you for sharing, have a wonderful weekend ladies.
Blessings,
Ruth
I know that feeling of being so into the prayer and feeling God’s love pulling you into Him that you almost fall. Oh that is what I hope for each time a pray. Thank you for sharing. Blessings to all you ladies today.
Oh how this is something I truly need to work on!
Thank you so much for this! I definitely needed to hear this as a huge reminder today.
May I please be entered for the gift card! Thank you very much!
WOW! I needed this today! Lately I have been trying harder to not loose control when my kids act out. I know I need time with Jesus every day, but some days I get so lazy and don’t make HIM my priority, and boy does it show! I have no grace to extend to them, if I do not allow Jesus’ Grace to fill me!
Thanks for this!
In every season of life I am learning to be thankful, intentional, and joyful. It can’t be determined by life, feelings, or even how long a season lasts.
Life is Beautiful!
I truly work on keeping the meaning of Christmas in my heart and actions all year round.
What a beautiful devotional Heather! Yes, I want to continue to ask the Lord to pour his living into me everyday and that over flows to touch others I meet each time I am out and about.
Beautiful words! Thanks for sharing! Love the imagery!
Thank you for this awesome reminder for us visual people! 🙂 This is my prayer as well.
I love the idea of cupped hands but open fingers! In order to receive, we must learn how to give!
“May my hands remain cupped to receive what You have for me and may my fingers stay open to release what You have to give others through me.” YES!! Great post – And I especially like the part about falling into the chair in front of you 🙂
Wow! Great visual! I too, am a visual person and I thank you for sharing this one! God uses things like this to help me grow. So thankful for your willingness to share.
I haven’t had a moment like that in a long time! What a wonderful encouragement.
Yes! I loved this! I am a very new RN… On my way into work each day, i pray that the Lord uses me as a vessel – so that I can show HIS love to others! (to the patients, their families, the staff/my co-workers…) I want him to flow through me, and I want to shine for HIM!
Hello I get so much into gods presence . I close my eyes and seek him .I would like a good glance of him I.I get so lost in finding him.
Awesome thought …
Thanks fer the visual …
(I think Ikea needs to work with us too) 😀
Have a Fantabulous Day …
Beautiful post. I’m also a visual person and I loved reading how you ‘saw’ this….
I’m so glad I took the time to read your post! I am definitely more visual than I thought I was. I think I’ve changed some over the years ????
Thanks for sharing this – something to truly take to heart. Blessings to you this holiday season!
Thank YOU for your awesome devotional…I, too, am a very visual person…and I totally agree with you on the IKEA thing!!! I love love love your analogy of hands up and cupped…but fingers open to pour out God’s love to others…that filled me up! Thanks again for sharing and inspiring!! Merry Christmas! =)
Thank you for the devotion this morning. I find that at this time of year it seems easier to give and help others. I look for opportunity to make a difference. I can be a small thing but it brings a smile to someones face. Blessings!
What beautiful imagery!<3
Beautiful visual of the way I should live. Thank you for sharing!
Wow neat visual
Thank you for sharing this, touched my heart and made me think/reflect
What beautiful imagery! Thank you for sharing! I too want to be filled with God to the point that others can see His goodness through the overflowing.
What a great visual. Thanks so much for sharing this with us!
I miss worshipping at church. It’s such a precious time. I just had surgery on my knee. Can’t wait for January to be on my feet again. Thank you for the giveaway. It’s fun.
What a perfect message for me to hear right now in this stage of my life…. I just moved to a new community, many states away… Pour into me, Lord.
May that be my heart’s cry as well! pour into me until I am overflowing, yet with open fingers so others may be able to see YOU!!
What a wonderful post! Memory verse for today!!
Thank you!
Comments are closed.