I love Sunday, I love gathering together. I love growing together. I love being apart of something huge, something far bigger than myself. I love it being the biggest day of our weeks, after all that’s where the magic happens, when all that hard work, the preparation, the spontaneous, the amazing connection of all His people combine together with one purpose: to praise His name. To seek Him out. To worship Him.
However, Sundays are really only a small portion of our week. Monday to Tuesday through to Saturday is where the action really is, where the grit is found. Where the hard stuff hits reality and we aren’t in that beautiful place of corporate focus toward Him. Ouch! Does it mean then I’ve missed the point? Or is it just regaining the understanding, Sunday is in fact an overflow day.
My previous Senior Pastor always use to say, “You serve out of the overflow of your heart”. I’ve witnessed this first hand. It’s an art form that takes practice and discipline. It’s still something I come back to. The overflow of your ministry can take many different shapes depending on where your heart is really at. It’s dependant on what God is teaching you or what you are willing to learn in any given season. As a leader, you are somewhat always switched on and so the need to be protective of your heart is high. However, there is power in your vulnerability as a leader too. People appreciate your authenticity and transparency when you allow God to continually work through you. It can be a positive on flow or it can have detrimental impact to your team and those you minister to if your heart is not in the right place. I’ve seen it done well and on the flip side I’ve been under leadership where overflow is a poor substitute for the real deal. It’s also a huge reminder that our times in ministry with God is not what feeds our personal walk with God… but in total reverse: our relationship with God is the conduit of our ministry. This is the overflow I’m growing in.
We are responsible for the colour of our overflow. Vibrant or dredge? What are some ways we can ensure that we are making His Bride beautiful in our day to day so that our Sunday overflow, can be a transparent, authentic representation of our incredible God and His sovereign love and mercy toward us?
It all starts from a place of transformation and vulnerability. It starts with me. It starts with you.
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. – Psalm 139:23 (NIV)
Ever prayed that? It’s a pretty bold prayer really. A hard one. Certainly not, a flippant prayer! Yet I believe often it’s our approach when we read scripture and we think “yes! I want that for my life” without truly comprehending how God will actually deliver on an answer for us. “Search me”: gives Him permission to go into those dark corners, the places of shameful thoughts, the places of despair and brokenness. The hidden knooks and crannies never exposed to light, and allow grace to be shed on them.
“There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” – Leonard Cohen
“Know my heart” is equally as dangerous. He already knows the condition of our heart, but as a gentlemen He will wait for an invitation before He will come in and bring healing. When we invite Him in it’s not just “hey this is my heart” moment, this is an intimate KNOW, like truly deeply madly KNOW my heart. Know the things I have kept secret, know the things that weigh heavily, know the things that break my heart and confession time: the things that don’t.
These prayers and pleadings for us to be stripped bare again leave us in a very vulnerable place. A place where the magic truly happens. A place where miracles can take flight. When we allow God to unequivocally transform us from the inside out: search me, and know my heart; it’s an internal exploration that has eternal impact when we allow His tender heart to encompass ours. If we legitimately embrace Him to let the light in on those areas we need to grow in, we grant Him permission for the best kind of transformation – whilst often painful and stretching it’s worth is greater as we grow in our understanding of freedom in Him.
Sunday is the place of overflow, the home where our bare hearts meet each other and we approach the throne together and say, “ok God let’s do this again and again and again (on endless repeat)” as He gently heals each layer, tenderly reveals another and applies His perfect touch in only the way our heart needs in the moment. We come together on Sunday as family of the wounded, knowing none of us are perfect – and that’s actually ok!!! We come equally before the throne, yet body approaching it and asking for more of His grace and love to make our life (not just our week) count for His kingdom. In our workplaces, in our families, in our city. We ask because we know, we’ve experienced it first hand and we don’t want anyone to miss out on this special and glorious experience of doing life with Christ.
So here we are, mid-week but on approach toward the weekend again… what is your overflow looking like? Is it a fragile overflow and that has blockages needing to be broken through? Is your overflow cynicism and a critical spirit that needs the breaking of gentle humility over it? Or is your overflow gratitude for all He has done, and will continue to do? Is your overflow a bare heart ready to be built upon with His kingdom’s purposes in mind? Would you dare to pray “search me and know my heart” and see what God does in you this week.