Transformational Thought
A banner ad came across my screen yesterday as I was on the Internet; “10 ways to be happier in 2 minutes or less.” Wow, what a deal, I would even give 10 minutes for happiness. Be honest with yourself, would you have clicked on the link. I would really like to know how many people clicked onto that ad in search of quick-hit happiness.
Why is happiness, true lasting happiness, you know, happiness regardless of your circumstances, so hard to “find”? When we do find happiness…why does it leave us so quickly? Scripture tells us that God created us as earthen vessels, but I believe I am such a leaky container that I can never really get filled and stay filled. Our fleshly lenses are so me oriented, we focus on the negative and what we don’t have, making happiness so elusive. Our selfish need to always want more makes happiness so short-lived.
This is why I need my vessel to be filled over and over constantly as I get empty so quicky. But while we are earthen vessels, God designed us to be filled with heavenly content that cant leak out…to fill our vessels with Him. Whether we choose to use this full vessel, or just pour it out and replace it with other stuff that easily leaks out, that decision is up to us.
So where do you go to “fill-up?” What do you put in your vessel? When you put the right God-gifts in your vessel, do you use it or do you pour it out for a cheap substitute? Don’t rush to the dollar store to grab items that break easily causing you to go back regularly and never being fully satisfied. Go to the quality store where the valuable items that take more commitment to “buy” are kept and patiently pursue quality that lasts.
Today, remain in the presence of Your God. He is excited and proud to fill you with His Glory-gifts. But this takes time…do not rush this process. Examine some truths you already know and see if you can apply them to a couple more small areas of your life, over and over, instead of applying cheap imitations from the world or your past. This is how you use the Glory-gifts in your vessel. Your decision, choose well.
Prayer
Dear Father God, Without You, my emptiness is profound. I know that I am an earthen vessel…and a leaky one at that. I need to be filled and refilled with You, my Father. Please fill me with Your love, joy and peace. Because Your gifts leak out of me, I need your continual presence…I need You endlessly for renewal. I have been empty for so long, Father…for as long as I can remember. I always knew that I was a leaky vessel. I saw myself as a defect…a mistake. But I rejoice in the awareness that I am not a mistake…that this is exactly how You made me, to allow the world’s stuff to leak out and your glory-gifts to be held in. This keeps me looking at You, coming to You for renewal. Thank You, Father. All praise and glory be to You. I pray, Father, that You also fill me with Your Holy Spirit…the most precious treasure of all. Fill me with Your holy scripture. As You fill me with Your gifts, let Your beautiful light shine through me like a Lighthouse to other people’s lives. Let me do Your work today, Lord, in ways that I don’t even understand. I pray in need and through the perfect filling for my vessel, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
However, we possess this precious treasure (the divine light of the Gospel) in (frail, human) vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.
2 Corinthians 4:7
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven
Matthew 5:16