We sang a song called Fill Me Up in worship yesterday at church. As we were singing, some thoughts from a ladies conference I attended last year came to mind. The speaker talked about being a river of living water rather than a cistern of water. What is a cistern?
A cistern (Middle English cisterne, from Latin cisterna, from cista, “box”, from Greek κίστη kistē, “basket”) is a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. Cisterns are distinguished from wells by their waterproof linings.
A cistern catches and contains rainwater. How does a cistern compare to a river? Both collect and contain water. What contrasts can be made between the two? A cistern is waterproof and fairly still except for when rain water is added. Because of this, the water in a cistern can often become stagnant. A river, however, is constantly moving. It collects rainwater also, but the river is always flowing. The river’s contents continually move and the water is constantly distributed to other locations. The water doesn’t ever sit long enough to become stagnant. The river water might flow to other bodies of water like oceans or lakes. At times, the river might flood or overflow onto nearby land.
We can compare our lives to this. Water is refreshing and we have to have it to survive. Is your life more like a cistern or a river? What do we do with the “water” God provides (time, talents, and treasures/money)? Sometimes it can be easier to just store what we have, but is that what we were meant to do? I think God is pleased when we allow our resources (not just material or financial, but maybe time, spiritual gifts, fruit of the spirit, etc. which come from Him anyway) to flow out of us like a river. All that we are and have are given to us by God, not just to store up, but to share. I’ve always heard you can’t “out-give” God, meaning He will always bless you with more as you are obedient to share your gifts as He leads. Remember it doesn’t just mean material things. He will continually fill you up and meet your needs as you allow Him to move into your life and help you flow like a river.
John 7:38
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
Revelation 22:1
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Your friend,
Tiffany
Fill Me Up
(Jesus Culture)
You provide the fire
And I’ll provide the sacrifice
You provide the spirit
And I will open up inside
Fill me up, God
Fill me up, God
Fill me up, God
Fill me up
Fill me up, God
Fill me up, God
Fill me up, God
Fill me up
Love of God overflow
Permeate all my soul
Love of God overflow
Permeate all my soul
Love of God overflow
Permeate all my soul
Love of God overflow
Permeate all my soul
Fill me up, God
Fill me up, God
Fill me up, God
Fill me up
Fill me up, God
Fill me up, God
Fill me up, God
Fill me up
You’ve Got A Friend 