Empty and Refill [5 Minute Friday]
I watch as my husband gets yet another item for me, to comfort me, to nourish me. He is emptying himself of his needs to serve me as I recover from surgery. He is setting aside his desires. And it’s not just his actions but his attitude that captures my attention.
He is serving me because I need him to, yes, but it’s more than that. He’s doing it out of love. It’s that simple, but so incredible. Giving of himself, all for love.
And as I take in his selfless acts, I become convicted. It is time for me to empty myself. To empty of the ugliness that rears its head more often than I like:
The critical spirit that lies just under the surface waiting to spill out when I’m irritated. The nagging, demanding wife I become in my weak moments.
And I know that emptying myself of these fleshly traits will open space to be filled with redeeming qualities of the Spirit. How much richer will my life be by pouring out the critical spirit within me and filling up instead with forbearance and self-control? Or replacing the nagging and demanding with gentleness and praises?
While my husband’s demonstration of his love for me has convicted me of my own selfishness, Jesus Christ’s love makes it possible for me to regularly empty myself of sinful vices and refill with Godly traits, allowing love to flourish.
Jesus Christ’s love makes it possible for us to regularly empty ourselves of sinful vices and refill with Godly traits, allowing love to flourish. Share on X
After all, we love because He first loved us. Amen!
“Fill us full every morning with your faithful love so we can rejoice and celebrate our whole life long” (Psalm 90:14).
Reflections: How has the Lord’s love helped you replace character traits of the flesh with fruits of the Spirit?
Linking up with Lisa-Jo at The Gypsy Mama on the prompt Empty.
By His Grace,
Julie
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Hello, I'm Julie, an imperfect wife and mother of four. Life in this broken world is not always easy. Yet, joy can be found in each day through the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I find it's easy for our day's blessings to get lost in its happenings. But God's "mercies never end" (Lamentations 3:22) and His "grace is sufficient" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
May the posts and pages on this site offer you a measure of peace and encouragement.
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What truth! Jesus is the one who makes possible the laying down and emptying of myself, so that he can fill me with himself, so that I can offer something of eternal value to someone else.
I’m blessed by reading your entry today… what sweet love by your husband and your response.
Thankful you stopped by, Anna! Continue to walk in the truth of Christ and share Him with others.
I. love. this. I think, perhaps, I need to print it out and post it on my bulletin board! “Emptying myself…to be filled with the redeeming qualities of the Spirit.” Yes, yes.
It is so amazing that the action of saying, “Okay, God… here I am with all my brokenness and messiness,” is the very thing that frees our hearts to be filled and ordered and made whole.
Yes, we certainly serve an amazing God, Natasha, Who continues to surprise us with His mercy and grace. Grateful God used my words to touch you today.