What Fills You Up?

Each day we need to make a conscious decision to make our lives meaningful. We need to fill our minds and hearts with things that add value and purpose to who we are. When we become complacent or irresponsible we either miss out on the opportunity to become a better version of ourselves or corrupt who we are.

I like to see our hearts and our minds as cups that need to be filled up. It is evident that we all have longings and when we fill it with temporary, fleeting things we ruin our appetite for something lovely and lasting. Longings take on different forms.

If we long to be in a romantic relationship. We settle for a one night stand or we allow ourselves to tolerate abuse. We may also allow our thoughts to live in a fantasy world of fictional characters through books, television shows or movies. As a result, we distort what love really is and set low standards or false expectations.

If we long for acceptance. We tend to foolishly please people by putting up a false front. We try to idolize people and carelessly spend our time, money and resources just to gain their approval. As a result, we doubt ourselves and people and let our insecurities grow within us.

If we long for fulfillment. We try to advance to the top no matter what it takes. Even at the cost of people around us. We neglect integrity, misuse loyalty and promote self-centeredness.

If we long for joy. We fill our lives with material possessions and new experiences we become dependent to.

I don't know how many times I've compromised just to appease my heart's longings. But living in regret for these mistakes won't do any good. I choose to use it to make me wiser.

How do we fill our hearts and minds with that which satisfies? We go back to the word of God.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10 NIV)

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It starts with a simple prayer, maybe as soft as a whisper to ask the lover of our soul to overcome our hearts.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8 NIV)

It is also a matter of programming and reprogramming our minds by submitting it to God and obeying what He says.

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. (2 Timothy 2:20-21)

Always remember that you were made for noble purposes. Fill your inner being with that which truly satisfies, when you do, the enticement of things that offer shallow, fleeting pleasures will lose its power to steal, kill and destroy that which you are destined to be and have. When you are filled with the right things you will be able to fulfill the great purpose of your life. And this is what truly fills you to overflow.

I am in the wine business, and one thing you never do is drink good wine in plastic cups. There are special glasses for special purposes. We women are infinitely more special than wine. Why will ourselves with cheap thrills? Why allow people who don't value us to fill us with emotions, with flattery, and with ideas that are not only worthless to us, they are destructive? 

Instead we need to go to God every day and get our fill, knowing that as we are patient to wait on Him, we will find satisfaction in Him.

Lord, I pray that I will be satisfied in You. Create in me a new heart and fill me afresh with all that You are. Teach me to take captive every thought to make it obedient to You.

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