prayers poured out
Author: Emily Rose Massey
Bible reading:
“Do nothing out of selfishness or empty conceit, but in humility, value one another above yourselves. 4 Look out not only to your own personal interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4, NASB).
Listen or read below:
A phrase you often hear online, especially among women and mothers, is “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” This means that you need to take care of yourself before you take care of others. This phrase is used to espouse the importance of self-care and “me time,” but often this becomes a completely self-centered ideology. I’m not claiming that our own needs aren’t important, but as Christians we should question this spirituality because our lives are one of sacrifice, selflessness, and humility. If we waited until all areas of our lives were completely filled with our needs before caring for others, we would probably never take our eyes off me, on me, on me. We will never experience the beauty of relying on God’s grace in the midst of our own weaknesses and struggles to give our lives for others.
In Philippians 2, the apostle Paul exhorts the church at Philippi to imitate the humility of Christ, which led to his obedience to the great sacrifice on the cross (Philippians 2:8):
“Do nothing out of selfishness or empty conceit. In humility of heart, value one another above yourselves, looking out not only for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4, NASB).
Of course, we ourselves can benefit from this exhortation as we look to Jesus as the perfect model of a sacrificial, selfless, and humble Christian life.
Because Jesus valued others more than himself, he descended from his heavenly throne and “emptied himself and took the form of a slave, made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). If Jesus listened to the world, He would be told that if He was “running on empty” He could do nothing for others. But Jesus showed us a better way to live. Jesus was truly God and truly man, yet He showed us what true humility looks like. But in addition to that, Jesus also showed us what a life of total dependence on the Father looks like. Because the grace to pour out our lives for others comes only from the Father.
What does this lifestyle look like in this season? Are you emptying yourself further and asking the Lord to give you the opportunity to serve others by putting them before yourself? One way God shapes us into the image of Christ so that we can truly imitate Him in others is by lifting us to the limits of our own power so that His power can shine in and through us (2 Corinthians 12:9). When we are completely dependent on God’s grace, we are showing others that apart from God we can do nothing (John 15:5).
Rather than trying to escape trials, fatigue, and pain by trying to fill your “cup” with what the world has to offer us to satisfy, perhaps the Lord wants you to turn to Him first to satisfy you and fill your gaps. This requires us to humble ourselves before God. After all, God gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).
What do you do to fill yourself up when you feel like you’re running on empty? When life is difficult, we can often be tempted to escape to worldly distractions and temporary solutions. Another temptation we can face is to isolate ourselves from others, but one of the most loving things we can do is to be vulnerable with others about what we are struggling with. In this way, the body of Christ can bless one another as we meet each other’s needs.
Do you feel like your “cup” is empty? And let us look to the Lord to use that “emptiness” for His glory as we serve others toward Him, trusting that He will fill us with His grace and power and prepare us daily for the humility of Christ.
Let’s pray:
Father God,
I feel so weak and weakened, but I know that your grace is sufficient to strengthen me. I often try to do everything on my own instead of seeking Your readily available blessings, but that only leaves me discouraged and disappointed. You know my weaknesses and what I turn to for comfort. Help me to look away from myself, completely surrender, and rely on your grace. Your grace enables me to do all that You have commanded me to do, which is to love others like Christ. Like Paul, I long to be poured out like a pouring offering for your glory.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
Share your thoughts on today’s devotion in the Daily Prayer discussion in the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/kenzaza
Emily Massey started writing short stories and poems at a young age, entered the world of blogging in her early twenties, and published her first book in 2015. While she enjoys being a homeschool mom to four boys, she is also able to pursue her passion as a writer. She believes much is forgiven, loves much, and desires to teach others about Christ and His saving and transforming power, especially by sharing the truths found in God’s written Word. To connect with Emily, please visit www.emilyrosemassey.com.
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