When our children were young, they would get to go and spend the night with Grama and Grampa quite frequently.
Our son, in particular, was an early riser. When he woke up, he was always hungry and so he would wake up Gram and tell her he needed breakfast. After a few incidents like this, Mom came up with a plan.
She poured a bowl of dry cereal and put it on the kitchen table. Then she poured a small pitcher of milk and let it in the refrigerator. She told our son that he could pour his own milk when he got up and have his cereal without waking anyone else up. Perfect plan – almost.
The next morning son followed the directions to a “t”. He got the milk out of the refrigerator and dumped it into the bowl. You know what happened, right? Yes. As the milk went in the cereal came out, leaving a mess on the table. His bowl runneth over!
That’s the picture I have in my mind’s eye every time I read Psalm 23.
“You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need. 2 You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water, 3 and you refresh my life. You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths.
4 I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid. You are with me,
and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe.
5 You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows. 6 Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live forever in your house, Lord.” Psalm 23 CEV
My cup overflows!
In the darkest of times – when I can see death and my enemies surround me – He fills my cup (my bowl) to overflowing. He fills it with His kindness and His love. And it isn’t just a one-time thing. The Lord continually fills my cup all the days of my life.
He protects and He provides. Jesus said that He came to give us a life of abundance.
“A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good.” John 10:10 ERV
Life with the overflowing presence of God Almighty.
My mom had to clean up the table and the floor because of the overflow of the milk but God isn’t concerned about what spills out. His love and goodness are never wasted. They never run out.
“On that day Jesus stood up and said loudly, “Whoever is thirsty may come to me and drink. 38 If anyone believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out from their heart. That is what the Scriptures say.” 39 Jesus was talking about the Spirit. ” John 7:37-39 ERV
The Spirit of God fills our hearts to overflowing with the character of Christ. That overflow is evidence to the world that God’s love is everlasting.
As I finish up this morning, a children’s Sunday School song, began to run through my mind. “Running over, running over, my cup is full and running over.”
I pray that you let the love of God fill your cup to full and running over.