Sunday, December 30, 2012
like a sponge.
Lately I've felt like a sponge, thirstily soaking up any bit of wisdom or inspiration I can. I find myself searching for it everywhere -- in Scripture, in books, in old journals, in songs, in quotes, in conversations. I don't know why or how I've become so thirsty, but I'm like a dry sponge, soaking it all in and wanting more.
I wouldn't really call this a valley, or say I'm in a spiritually low place, because that's not true. In fact, God is very real and very close...His work is more evident and His voice more clear than it has been in a while. And yet I feel thirsty, needy, for more of Him, for more wisdom, truth, clarity, faith, light, inspiration, direction, hope, and holiness.
He satisfies the hungry soul with good things (Psalm 107:9). He gives me a little every day. A Scripture, a devotion, a line from a song. Something specific to pray for. A quote I wrote in my journal years ago, that spoke to me then and does again now. Little sips to quench the thirst. In fact, there are so many little "sips" I could share here -- thoughts that God has given or that have encouraged me lately -- that would probably seem so all-over-the-place if I wrote them all down here together, and you'd think I was crazy! But they have kept me going...kept me thirsting...seeking for more from Him. For more of Him.
At camp, we play a game with the kids involving a sponge and two buckets. Each camper has to dip her sponge into a bucket of cold water from the creek, soaking up as much water as possible, then place the sponge on her head and run to the other end of the field. At the other end of the field, there's a second bucket, and she squeezes her sponge out there before running back to the first bucket. The object of the game is to be the first team to fill the second bucket. It's hilarious to watch the kids play this game, running and laughing across the field with creek water streaming down their faces from the sponge on their head. Some of the little ones hold it there too tightly, and squeeze most of the water out onto their own heads as they run, leaving nothing left to squeeze into the bucket.
I don't have a brilliant analogy for this. Thinking about being a dry sponge just reminded me of it. All I can say is, Lord, fill my bucket!
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I think when we feel needy for Him so much, it is definitely a positive sign of growth! When I worked in Mississippi this summer, I spent a week at an inner city ministry and one of the workers used a devotion with a sponge that has never left me. She talked about how it is important for us to soak up God's Word and His instruction, but just like a sponge, if you don't squeeze it out it will just start to smell and be of no use. So just like a sponge, we need to be filled up to be of use, but it is also just as important for us to squeeze out what we have learned and use it to teach and love others. This just made me think of that! Thanks for the reminder!
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