A Prayer to Be Poured Out - Your Daily Prayer - February 21

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A Prayer to Be Poured Out
By: Emily Rose Massey

Bible Reading:
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴ do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4, NASB).

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A popular phrase that you hear online, especially among women and mothers, is “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” This means you need to take care of yourself before you can take care of someone else. This phrase is used to support the importance of self-care and “me time,” but this often becomes an ideology completely centered around self. While I am not advocating that our own needs don’t matter, we should question this mentality as Christians because our lives are to be ones of sacrifice, selflessness, and humility. If we wait until every area of our lives is perfectly overflowing with everything we need before caring for others, we will most likely never take our gaze off me, myself, and I. We will never experience the beauty of relying upon God’s grace in the midst of our own weakness and struggles to lay down our lives for another.

In Philippians 2, the Apostle Paul exhorts the church at Philippi to imitate Christ’s humility that led Him to obedience, even to the point of His great sacrifice on the cross (Philippians 2:8):

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4, NASB).

We, of course, can glean from this exhortation ourselves as we look to Jesus as our perfect model for the Christian life of sacrifice, selflessness, and humility. 

Because He regarded others more important than Himself, Jesus stepped down from His heavenly throne, “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, being made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). If He listened to the world, He would be told He could do nothing for anyone else if He were “running on empty,” but Jesus showed us a better way to live. Although He was truly God and truly Man, Jesus showed us what true humility looks like. But in addition, He also showed us what a life entirely dependent upon the Father looks like because the grace to pour our lives out for others comes only from Him. 

What does this way of living look like in your current season? Are you asking the Lord to give you opportunities to empty yourself even more and serve others, preferring others above yourself? One way God will conform us into the image of Christ so that we can truly imitate Him to others is to get us to the end of our own strength so that His strength can shine in and through us (2 Corinthians 12:9). When we are entirely dependent upon God’s grace, we are showing others that we can do nothing apart from Him (John 15:5).

Instead of looking for an escape from your trial, your exhaustion, or your pain by trying to fill up your own “cup” with whatever the world offers us as satisfying and fulfilling, perhaps the Lord wants you to look to Him first to satisfy you and fulfill you where you’re lacking. This requires us to humble ourselves before God; after all, He gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). 

When you feel like you are running on empty, what things do you try to fill yourself up with? We are often tempted to run to worldly distractions and temporary solutions when life is difficult. Another temptation we might face is to isolate ourselves from others, but one of the most loving things we can do is become vulnerable with others about what we are struggling with. This is how the Body of Christ is able to bless each other as we meet each other’s needs.

Do you feel like your “cup” is empty? Then let’s look to the Lord to use that “emptiness” for His glory by serving others as we point them to Him, and to trust that He will fill us with His grace and strength, conforming us to Christ’s humility day by day.   

Let’s Pray:

Father God,

I am feeling so weak and depleted, but I know Your grace is more than enough to strengthen me. So often, I don’t ask for Your grace that is readily available to me, and I try to do it all in my own strength, which just leaves me discouraged and disappointed. You know my weaknesses and the things I turn to for comfort. Help me get my eyes off of myself to fully surrender and rely on Your grace that will empower me to do all that You have called me to, which is to love others like Christ does. Like Paul, I long to be poured out like a drink offering, all for Your glory.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/kenzaza 

Emily Massey began writing short stories and poetry as a little girl, entered the blogging world in her early 20s, and published her first book in 2015. She enjoys being a homeschooling momma of four boys, while still being able to pursue her passion as a writer. Believing she has been forgiven much, she loves much, and desires to point others to Christ and His redemptive and transforming power, especially by sharing truth found in God’s written word. If you would like to connect with Emily, you can visit www.emilyrosemassey.com.

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