When You're Running On Empty
This is a weekly devotion that is sent to me every Monday morning from inspire women and I just had to share this message with everyone.
Be blessed,
Letty
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Faithful One,
Have you ever been in a place where you are running on empty but the needs around you continue to pour in? Have you felt pressed up against the wall and found yourself crying out for an answer? Let's take a look at an example in God's word of someone who ran out of resources and was feeling the pressure that something is about to crash unless a miracle happens. I pray this story will give us some insight for our own lives.
John 2:1-5 reads, "On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." NIV
Observe in this story that "the wine was gone." Some might say, "That's poor planning. Why didn't the host order enough wine to begin with?" Some might say, "Sometimes life surprises us. More people came to the wedding than expected. They consumed more resources than expected. Sometimes life happens that way. No matter how we plan, we might find ourselves in a place where our current supply is unable to meet the demands." Whatever the case, the fact remains that the resource is gone and there is nothing left at the bottom of the barrel. I wonder if today you are feeling you are at the bottom of the barrel, emotionally, financially, physically or perhaps a combination of all three?
Before you despair, let's discover the miracle in this story. Observe the words "Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding." Could it be that even before the need arises, God already planted the answer in the midst of the people? Has God already put someone in your life who has the capacity to respond in grace and mercy?
Observe that Jesus' mother was the one who brought the need to Jesus and said, "They have no more wine." Realize the incredible mercy of God to work through a simple woman like Mary. She recognized the need and responded with a solution even before anyone appealed for help. Oh Faithful One, when someone points out a need because they care, do you get defensive? Have you totally discounted God's protection through such a friend? Instead of searching for your own solutions, is it time to embrace the one through whom God has chosen to work through to help you?
Observe that Mary said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Here is the obstacle that must be overcome before God releases His miracle. First, the servants had to accept that God was giving them an answer through a simple woman. Secondly, they had to follow instructions even if the instructions did not make any sense. The secret is to recognize the person God has chosen to work through. Oh Faithful One, when you do not follow the counsel of the one God sent to help you, you are choosing to remain in your despair for longer than necessary. Has your pride blocked the miracle because you insisted on your own solutions instead of accepting the solution God designed? Is it time to ask God for forgiveness and a second chance?
Jesus responded that His time had not come but He responded to Mary's appeal and turned the water into wine. Please don't miss the fact that Jesus Himself was on a mission and as much as we sometimes think that God is here to serve our needs, the fact is, we were created for God's purpose! The gospel of John was written so we might know that He is the Christ. In the Old Testament, the Messiah was described as the bridegroom. So God puts Jesus at a wedding because His first miracle was God's statement that the bridegroom had come to deliver His people. So here is the greatest secret of all. Our need becomes the stage from which God fulfills His mission. You see, all things were created for Him and by Him. The story is not about your personal need or wants. The greater story is the statement God is making about Himself when He responds to your need. So the bottom line is not whether God will meet your need or not. The celebration is in knowing that if we offer God our needs as His stage and follow His instructions, we can trust God to make His own name known.
I pray this devotion encouraged you in a special way. When I pray for you, I hear a victory song. I believe in you because I believe in the power of God's Word revealed in you as you put His Word into action.
Love, Anita
Letty
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Faithful One,
Have you ever been in a place where you are running on empty but the needs around you continue to pour in? Have you felt pressed up against the wall and found yourself crying out for an answer? Let's take a look at an example in God's word of someone who ran out of resources and was feeling the pressure that something is about to crash unless a miracle happens. I pray this story will give us some insight for our own lives.
John 2:1-5 reads, "On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." NIV
Observe in this story that "the wine was gone." Some might say, "That's poor planning. Why didn't the host order enough wine to begin with?" Some might say, "Sometimes life surprises us. More people came to the wedding than expected. They consumed more resources than expected. Sometimes life happens that way. No matter how we plan, we might find ourselves in a place where our current supply is unable to meet the demands." Whatever the case, the fact remains that the resource is gone and there is nothing left at the bottom of the barrel. I wonder if today you are feeling you are at the bottom of the barrel, emotionally, financially, physically or perhaps a combination of all three?
Before you despair, let's discover the miracle in this story. Observe the words "Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding." Could it be that even before the need arises, God already planted the answer in the midst of the people? Has God already put someone in your life who has the capacity to respond in grace and mercy?
Observe that Jesus' mother was the one who brought the need to Jesus and said, "They have no more wine." Realize the incredible mercy of God to work through a simple woman like Mary. She recognized the need and responded with a solution even before anyone appealed for help. Oh Faithful One, when someone points out a need because they care, do you get defensive? Have you totally discounted God's protection through such a friend? Instead of searching for your own solutions, is it time to embrace the one through whom God has chosen to work through to help you?
Observe that Mary said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Here is the obstacle that must be overcome before God releases His miracle. First, the servants had to accept that God was giving them an answer through a simple woman. Secondly, they had to follow instructions even if the instructions did not make any sense. The secret is to recognize the person God has chosen to work through. Oh Faithful One, when you do not follow the counsel of the one God sent to help you, you are choosing to remain in your despair for longer than necessary. Has your pride blocked the miracle because you insisted on your own solutions instead of accepting the solution God designed? Is it time to ask God for forgiveness and a second chance?
Jesus responded that His time had not come but He responded to Mary's appeal and turned the water into wine. Please don't miss the fact that Jesus Himself was on a mission and as much as we sometimes think that God is here to serve our needs, the fact is, we were created for God's purpose! The gospel of John was written so we might know that He is the Christ. In the Old Testament, the Messiah was described as the bridegroom. So God puts Jesus at a wedding because His first miracle was God's statement that the bridegroom had come to deliver His people. So here is the greatest secret of all. Our need becomes the stage from which God fulfills His mission. You see, all things were created for Him and by Him. The story is not about your personal need or wants. The greater story is the statement God is making about Himself when He responds to your need. So the bottom line is not whether God will meet your need or not. The celebration is in knowing that if we offer God our needs as His stage and follow His instructions, we can trust God to make His own name known.
I pray this devotion encouraged you in a special way. When I pray for you, I hear a victory song. I believe in you because I believe in the power of God's Word revealed in you as you put His Word into action.
Love, Anita 
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