“Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." ~Acts 1:4-5 NLT
The last two months have been an amazingly awesome blur. I traveled speaking six out of the past nine weekends and went to NYC for another weekend with my mom and sister. Our first ever trip together!
Speaking at women’s events is what fires me up, but also drains me out.
I’ve been experiencing this increase in ministry all while I’ve been co-coordinating The Word Awards for The Word Guild… you know, the one I won an award for my blog in last year (I mention it here and here)? We’ve also had the WIMM Canada website rebuild and that took a lot of work for our team. Anyways, we had the Awards Gala on Friday night, handing out 48 Awards. By the end of the awards, I was completely exhausted. Actually, whatever word is beyond exhausted, that’s what I was! So, I’m getting this devotion out late today because I needed to fill up my well!
On Saturday I tried to write my Soul H2O devotion, but it just wouldn’t come. It was like trying to draw water from a well that was dry. You can keep priming the pump, but the only thing that’s going to come up is crud from the bottom of the well. That’s where I was at.
So, I thought, I’m just not going to send out a devotion until I have time to refill my well.
Saturday night I got a good night’s sleep. Then, on Sunday morning an old College friend Bob Smickiklas and his son Josiah were preaching at our church. Josiah had just come back from a YWAM Missions trip all fired up. As he told about God’s miraculous power at work healing people both physically and emotionally, I got fired up. Josiah told of how one young girl who was born mute spoke for the first time!
Physical rest, preaching, testimonies and being with other believers started filling up my well. The prayer time after the service was a huge wave of refreshing.
I got another good night’s sleep and woke up revived. Reenergized to read God’s Word. I read this week’s verse during my devotions and it popped off the page! I understand what Jesus was saying to the disciples in Acts 1:4-5, and why. He knew what they were facing in life and ministry. Jesus knew it wouldn’t be easy. He knew the mission was great. Jesus doesn’t suggest, the Bible says He commanded the believers to not go out and do any ministry until they received the infilling of the Holy Spirit. An experience I understand as being secondary to salvation since Jesus was commanding believers to wait. Jesus knew we couldn’t do I on our own and that we’d need the empowering of the Holy Spirit to accomplish all God desires for us to do.
[tweetthis]The IN-filling must be greater than the OUT-pouring! [/tweetthis]
God knows what you’re going to face. Only He knows what you need. Only He can fill up your well. Choose today to make choices that will deposit living water in that reservoir of yours!
Prayer
Father…I’m thankful that You can fill up my well. I’m sorry for getting too busy that my reserves are depleted. Help me to make wise choices physically, emotionally, relationally and spiritually, to stay refreshed. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Baptize me like you promise in Your Word. I need your strength. In Jesus Name…Amen
Best Post Comment Below:
God has promised to make us a watered garden, but we can’t keep the hose on all the time!
~From Michele Morin michelemorin.wordpress.com
Where I’ll be filling up my well this summer!
Check the website for the speaker schedule: http://www.braesidecamp.ca
If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest
Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.
#Dare2Share
Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!
- Acts 1:4-5
- Acts 1:8
- Zechariah 4:6
- Luke 12:12
YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis, Soul Survival – Donna Reidland,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms, Chasing Community – Barbara Bradford Ottinger
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell ELLEN’S PICKS– Ellen Graf-Martin
Sherry, only God knows how much I needed this today. I had just been praying and releasing something to Jesus and I read your email. Thank you for your honesty and timing. God bless!
Margaret,
Nothing makes me happier than to hear God is using my words to speak into peoples lives and bring encouragement. Praying blessings on your life and that He would fill up your well 🙂
~Sherry
xoxo
Your gracious attitude is contagious, herry! I love this post and I so know you needed to be refreshed, considering all the work you did for the Gala – and you smiled through it all. Well done and here’s hoping your well is filling well post Gala! 😉
Oh, Glynis you’re tooo sweet. Now did you spell my name wrong to get back for the award not having your name spelled incorrectly 🙂 Oh typos! My well is filling up, post Gala. God is so good!
~Sherry
xoxo
Great post, Sherry. I’m a speaker as well and love to take a message from God and about Him to women. Ministry IS draining and when you couple travel on top of it, we must remember to go to the well for filling from Jesus. He refreshes our soul. Congratulations on your blog award. Blessings!
Karen,
Thanks for taking the time to write. We’re girls with a kindred heart <3 Praying God refreshes your spirit to OVERflowing!
~Sherry
xoxo
Such good counsel here, Sherry!
I ignored a clear directive to take a break back in December, and entered the new year on fumes. I’m listening now, and it was a huge relief to be obedient to the call of Sabbath in April, and I’m looking forward to another break in July! God has promised to make us a watered garden, but we can’t keep the hose on all the time!
Michele,
Oh I like that one! Very good line.
God has promised to make us a watered garden, but we can’t keep the hose on all the time!
Your words bless so many. Thanks for again, blessing mine.
Much love,
Sherry
xoxo
Amen, Sherry! We cannot fill up other people’s “cups” until we allow God to fill up our own. I’m glad you made time to refresh yourself, as well as letting God refuel your heart and mind. These are good reminders to us all, since most of us, myself included, tend to forget them far too often and quickly! 😉 Looks like you had an amazing time at the awards ceremony and congrats on your huge win!
Beth,
Thanks for your encouraging words. Todd and I had a great time, even with all the work. I think it meant more to give out the awards this year since it meant so much for me to receive one last year.
Continuing to refuel,
~Sherry
xoxo