Making Space

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NLT)

Our old fridge did not have a replaceable water filter, so although it was hooked up to a water supply, we stopped using the automatic ice maker. Instead, we regularly filled plastic ice trays with filtered water and carefully placed them in our freezer. Every time we needed ice, we would have to go through the process of manually refilling these ice trays. Since we weren’t using the automatic ice maker, we used the space to hold bags of frozen vegetables and fruits. The bin had a metal feeler arm that sensed when it was full and turned off the ice making process. It didn’t matter what we filled it with, as long as the bin was not empty, the automatic ice maker stayed inactive.

When we don’t trust the source of our supply, we tend to rely on our own resources. We depend on our talents, support networks, and concepts of self-sufficiency. If we keep our life crammed with fillers, the Holy Spirit stays dormant. Faith is confident trust in God. We learn to wait in the emptiness, knowing that the hollow space is essential for the Spirit to work. God, the source of hope, fills us completely with joy and peace when we trust in him. When we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, we are hooked up to a continuous supply, which enables us to overflow with confident hope.

Joy List

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NIV)

At the beginning of 2018, I made a list of 18 things I thought would give me joy. Many of the resolutions centered around self-care, experiencing new things, and achieving new levels of growth. I managed to do all the things on my list at least once. Some of them made me feel better about myself; others brought temporary pleasure and satisfaction; however, I can’t honestly say that anything on my list led to sustainable joy.  

For 2019, I am going to attempt something slightly different. Although I will continue to pursue self-care, new encounters, and personal growth, I would like to focus more on inwardness, for caring for my soul. I suspect this quest will be hard to quantify or check off on a list. As usual, my writing will reflect whatever I am learning at the moment.

As we start this new year, my prayer for all of you and for myself is the same: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Brim Over

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NIV)

The Crow and  the Pitcher, one of Aesop’s Fables, describes a thirsty bird who finds a pitcher with water at the bottom. The crow cannot reach the water with its beak, so it picks up nearby pebbles and drops them in one by one until the water rises to the top. What was once beyond reach is made accessible.

The power of the Holy Spirit resides in each of us, but it is sometimes unreachable. The pebbles of trust, joy, peace, gratitude, devotion, and submission--immersed one by one--brings the Spirit to the surface. What was once beyond reach is made accessible. The life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit brims over, infusing us with hope.

Well Insulated

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NIV)

Positive feedback can boost your confidence. For example, if several people have mentioned that you look good in blue, you are more likely to feel better when wearing blue. This, in turn, may influence you to wear blue more often. Compliments can fill us with a sense of self-assurance. However, the approval of others cannot shield us against feelings of insecurity.

When we attempt to encourage others by pointing out their talents, beauty, intelligence, virtue, etc., we may build them up temporarily. Yet, it’s like a builder who uses hot air to insulate a building instead of using a highly rated foam insulation that can be blown into every nook and cranny of a house. While the first option might provide warmth for a few minutes, the latter will protect the house from the external climate permanently.

God is good and trustworthy. He will fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him. The power of the Holy Spirit will enable you to overflow with hope. Encourage each other.  Spread this message until it reaches every nook and cranny. This truth is the best insulation, protecting us even in the harshest times.