The last part of this “Me first” series is receiving. I kept seeing the demonstration that flight attendants give when the plane is about to take off. They show you the oxygen mask and how it works and then they tell you, if oxygen is needed, first place the mask properly on your own face before helping others. This is a very important point, because we need to be in the right frame of mind and breathing normally if we are to give appropriate and helpful aid to others.
Likewise, in our Christian walk, how can we give of Holy Spirit if we have not first received. There’s a famous saying, “You can’t give what you don’t have.” This is true in the Kingdom.
It’s so key that we must first sit before the Father and cultivate a true and genuine relationship if we want to share it with others. For many years, as I’ve stated before, I worshiped alone with Him. I would sing, pray, read the Bible and rest in His Presence every day. I spent countless hours meeting Him. Discovering Him. And I still do. I still need to soak in Him and remind my heart what He’s said. I still must read the Word and worship and pray.
I first receive, so I can then pour out.
When is the last time you sat in His presence to simply receive for yourself? Laying aside your prayer requests for others and just come before God to be filled? For some of you, I imagine it’s been far too long. But this is a new day!! A new opportunity to learn how to be filled.
When thinking this devotional through, I thought about how much I love to run. I considered my “why” for running. You know, my reason. Well, one of the main reasons I do it is so I can stay youthful enough to enjoy my kids and to give them confidence in my health. I want them to know that I am healthy enough to see my grandchildren. I never want my kids to be concerned for my health. Instead, I want to be an inspiration for them and one who leads them to consider physical and emotional health as important. Not more important than my walk with God, but yet another facet of it. I want to be a good example for them.
The same applies to all I previously stated. I want to give and receive in such healthy ways that my kids can feel confident in their own giving and receiving. I don’t want them to see me as a martyr, but as a generous conduit of God’s grace and giving. I want them to see generosity in me every day.
How can you receive today? Take a moment and ask the Father to pour into you and then to direct you as you distribute that which you’ve received from Him. Then ask Him to do it all over again. It’s a beautiful exchange.
Now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:32-35
365 Days in the Presence 