Are you willing to be filled to and beyond overflowing?

I made a cup of tea this morning. I made a mistake and put too much water in. 🙂
When I added the milk, the mug was full to capacity and overflowed slightly. It spilled even more as I tried to gently stir the milk in.

Then the thought came, “To be filled to overflowing, means to be so filled, that you just spill over.”

I made a bit of a mess with the tea.
I needed to clear the overflow up. No problem really, as it was only a small mess. But a bit messy it was, all the same.

So, are we willing to be filled to overflowing by Our Lord God Almighty?

Romans 15:13
¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 23:5
⁵You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.

Luke 6:45
⁴⁵ The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

If we are going to be overflowing, then it’s going to be better if we overflow the goodness of God.

But are we willing to become overflowing?

To be filled to overflowing could mean to become a little bit (or a lot) foolish in our own eyes.

King David knew something of this when he danced before the Lord with all his might, in 2 Samuel 6:14.
Michal, David’s wife, saw David dancing and looked down upon him and despised him in her heart. 2 Samuel 6:16.
In 2 Samuel 6:20 she then tries to rebuke David.

David’s response is:
2 Samuel 6:21-22
²¹ David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. ²² Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!”

So, being filled to overflowing could mean to end up looking a little or a lot foolish, but it will also mean knowing a joy that goes beyond the normal.
An overflowing of joy!

Does anyone want to say yes to that one …..?
I do!
I want my default to be, to say “YES” to my Lord God, and not no.
I want to be more concerned about what He wants, and less about what I want.

I was just in the bathroom, shaking the excess water from my hands, “Oi, you’re making me wet” my wife then complains to me.
“It’s just the overflow you are experiencing” I reply. 🙂 (We had just been talking about the overflow idea.)
She was not too amused, and was happy when I left the room. 🙂

How do we respond when we come into contact with people who are overflowing?

Whoa, calm down a bit there?
Can you rein that in a bit?
I can’t keep up with you there?
I’ll just stay over here, and possibly watch from afar?

….. or how about…..

Whoa, that looks good, can I have some?
Let’s keep this fire going, and then see just where it goes to?
I want to be close to this and get on board with what’s happening?

Which set of responses do you think is more you, at the moment?
Which set of responses do you want to be like?
Is a change needed?

Proverbs 3:5-10
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and shun evil.
⁸ This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones.

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits of all your crops;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.

________________________________________

Can you Hear the Beat of the Drums?
Will you follow the leading of The Lord Your God?

Will You Accept God’s Power of Veto?
Will you allow The Lord Your God…. to be The Lord Your God?