Whats up everbody? Welcome to the "oVerfLow deVotionaL." This blog/devo stems from the Vital Link Student Ministry at Riva Trace Baptist Church right outisde of Annapolis, MD.
Let's not waste too much time. Today I want to just talk about the word 'overflow.' Matthew 12:34b says that "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." Day in and day out we are filling our hearts and minds with "stuff." This "stuff" could be good or bad, depending on the sources. And its kind of like the breakfast or lunch you ate earlier today - "what goes in, does come out." Sorry for the mental picture.
What are you taking in? What is coming out? My former Youth Pastor once said that "Your character isn't how you act or what you say when people are around, rather it is how you act and what you say when no one is around." It is so easy for our hearts and minds to be filled with junk. We spend more time accessing the internet, Facebook, iPods, and our Wii's, than our time with God. Absolutely nothing wrong with those few things, yet that is the purpose of this Devotional.
Once a day - after you get done your homework each night, don't go running to Facebook, your iPod, and your video games just yet. Come here. Spend some time with God and his word. Equal out your time with him, with the time you spend watching T.V. or searching the web. I'm telling you - you will be surprised with your "Overflow." Your once critical, frustrated, shallow heart will turn into a compassionate, excited follower and lover of your creator and your savior.
So - here we go. Start now. Give this a shot for a few weeks - and you will soon desire to grow closer to God every day, and make an impact on your friends, family and your own generation in the name of Jesus Christ.
Step one: Copy & Paste the following into a WORD document
Step two: Fill in the blanks or type in your answers
Step three: Print and save a copy
1 Thess 3:12-13
12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
1.) Type your own definition of Love:
2.) Can you say you Love all types of people? Do you have less patience with some people than others? Why? Do you think it's okay to only love those who are easy to love? Turn to 1 John 4:19-21.
3.) Think of a coffee cup. Imagine in the coffee cup it could either be empty, half full, full, or overflowing of fresh brewed coffee. Now think of your heart. Is it empty, half full, full, or overflowing with God's Love and Holiness? Or have is it filled, but with "junk." Rate yourself from 1-10. 1 being empty and full of junk, 5 being half empty with junk, and 10 being overflowing with good. Explain why you think your could be "that" certain number.
4.) Want to "up the number" towards overflowing? Do the following for the rest of your alone time with God:
- Read 1 John 4
- Memorize 1-3 of your favorite verse(s) from this chapter.
- Make a list of what you could to to stop filling your heart and mind with junk.
- Make a list of what you could do to start filling your heart and mind with love & Holiness.
- Pray that God will help you through this process. Pray for those you have a hard time loving. Pray that God will instill in you a clean heart today!
Until next time, keep rockin' for Jesus!
- Pastor Joey
