Thimble or Bucket?

For the last few weeks I've been pressing on toward a richer, deeper prayer life. Which is the same as saying having a more intimate relationship with our Father. With the God of the universe. With the One who made us just as we are for the pure pleasure of enjoying him.

In case you skimmed over what I just said without thinking much about the implications, let me say it again in another way. Slow down and treat each comma as a signal to pause and take in what you read before moving on.

The eternal God,
the Holy One of Israel,
the Creator and Sustainer of all things,
the One who loves you so much that he planned from all eternity to display his glory by crucifying his only Son just to redeem you,
the God who is simultaneously just and merciful,
the Father who made you just as you are but loves you too much to leave you that way,
that very God created you for the pure pleasure of enjoying him.

On one hand, that should make us feel smaller than a speck of dust in the vast universe (and just as insignificant) when we consider just who it is who's invited us into his very presence. On the other hand, the very contrast between us and our Maker should underscore what a supreme honor and privilege it is to be the recipient of his gracious invitation. Our Father wants to fill our cup to overflowing as we meet with him face-to-face in prayer.

Which brings me to my question for today. How big is your cup?

When God offers to fill your cup in prayer, do you pull out a thimble or a bucket? Yes, he'll fill whatever you offer, and you'll feel full to overflowing. But do you honor God's invitation to be filled with his Spirit by holding out a thimble day after day? God isn't offering to fill you with more of himself. He's asking you to offer more of yourself for him to fill. You've got all of him. Does he have all of you?

You can't put much of a meal in a thimble. Just a little milk. If you want meat, you'll need a bigger cup. And to receive the feast he's prepared for you, you'd better bring a bucket. A big one.

That's what prayer does. Consistent, persistent, private prayer expands your capacity to enjoy the One who enjoys you. The better you know God, the better you'll know yourself. The better you know yourself, the more you'll see and hate the vile wickedness of your sin. The more you see and hate the vile wickedness of your sin, the greater your appreciation for God’s gracious work in Christ. The greater your appreciation of God’s gracious work in Christ, the more time you'll want to spend pleasing him. And the more you want to please him, the less satisfied you’ll be with how little of your life you're allowing him to fill.

Whatever you offer, he'll fill to overflowing. But are you still satisfied with a thimble? If not, thank him for filling what you've offered up to this point, and ask him to help you honor him by offering up more of yourself. You do that by seeking true pleasure in him rather than in the fleeting, unsatisfying, selfish pleasure and comforts found in the things of this world. Every time you turn obediently from lust to love, from vengeance to forgiveness, from getting to giving, from self-reliance to trusting God's provision, you offer more of yourself for him to fill and your cup grows larger. The more of you that God gets, the more you honor him.

So what'll it be? Thimble or bucket?

How big is your cup?