The Listening Heart ~ Overflow
“OVERFLOW” is what keeps coming to my mind as I begin 2020 in prayer. OVERFLOW is the abundant filling of a substance that results in spilling out over the edges of a container. It no longer maintains the shape of that which contained it-but spreads out onto a surface and touches everything in its path until it can go no farther. The depth, width, and height of the container can help determine how long before OVERFLOW occurs. The density or dilution of the substance will allow a drip, plop or a splash when it begins to OVERFLOW!
We can ask so many questions:
Where do the limitations lie?
Who sets the boundaries?
How long does it take to reach the boundary?
But I want to focus on one: WHAT IS GOING TO OVERFLOW OUT OF YOU IN 2020?
The answer is: Whatever you put in or allow in = Whatever you consume!
This all sounds so scientific but has a very spiritual depth and truth!
“The good person produces good things from the store of good in his heart, while the evil person produces evil things from the store of evil in his heart. For his mouth speaks what overflows from his heart.” (Luke 6:45 Complete Jewish Bible-CJB)
Matthew Henry tells us: “Our hearts are the treasure, our actions and words are the expenses or produce from that treasure.”
There are only two types of OVERFLOW produced here: good or evil.
Good (the repository of pure thoughts brought forth in speech) has to do with the love of God and life in Christ reigning in our hearts, and produces good (upright & honorable) fruit in/through us.
Evil (indicates degeneracy from original virtue) has to do with the love of the world and life in the flesh with its lusts reigning in our hearts, and produces evil (that which is wicked; the appearance of evil) in/through us.
What I find very interesting here is we choose what we consume and both good and evil produce fruit - but that fruit affects not only us, but others who will consume from our OVERFLOW! Our tongue has the power to speak words of life or death over people and situations. (Prov. 18:21) Do a search on Biblegateway.com under the words, “the tongue”. You will be shocked at how much you can learn about the BIG power of this little muscle!
The good AND the bad direct the same statement to us:
“Choose this day (everyday) whom you will serve!”
A) GOOD - Love of God and Life in Christ...reigning in our hearts = good fruit
B) EVIL - Love of the world and Life in the flesh with its lusts...reigning in our hearts = evil fruit
Josh. 24:15
If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
I pray that this year, the good in you will OVERFLOW and touch everyone in your path!
HAPPY 2020!