A SOUL CUPBOARD
Repost from January 2012
Ole’ Mother Hubbard’s got nothin’ on me… On more than one occasion, my soul cupboard’s been close to empty. As of late, the cupboard of my soul has been found lacking. The old cupboard of my soul is usually stocked to the brim with the provision of my heavenly Father.
Then there are the other times… times when I look deep within, searching. I open the cupboard door with my left arm, holding open the door that hinges on the same side. I hang my head, chin to chest to try to catch a glimpse of what’s inside my soul.
When my soul cupboard is full I don’t even look- I just reach in with confidence knowing my shelves are well stocked. In the cold of winter my heart has burned through the provision, not taking into account what was in inventory.
In the throes of empty hunger pangs, I stand, chin down, soul door open, looking for what’s not there… I see empty… I feel empty… I hear empty… I taste the emptiness within my over used soul…
Much too often we use up the resources of God that He’s placed within us. If we’re honest in our assessment of what lies within, we realize it was pure squandering that depleted the storehouse within us.
The provision God stocks our soul cupboard with, we often misuse… I want to be creative. I want to be clever… I want… I’ve forgotten that the cupboard isn’t mine… I am an invited guest… Not a good guest at that… Who wants a guest like that?
We tend to use the assets of God for our own glory and satisfaction. The only thing He wants is for us to show respect, a little restraint. God expects us to guard with honor the provision He’s placed in our soul cupboards. He desires us to share the provision with anyone and everyone. When we use the provision to honor ourselves and play the big shots, it disappears rapidly.
“Where’s it at Father”? I ask leaning over, gazing into the empty void. I can only hear the wind howling through the empty shelves of my selfish indulgence. “Where’s the magic”? – “I have nothing to show off with”! – “I need to be recognized”! – “I need Your grace and gifts”!…
The words echo back to me through the desolate canyon of my selfish soul, “GIFTS-Gifts-gifs-fss-ss-s-s-s-s…..” … I have nothing to share with you… It’s all gone…
I should have been more disciplined with the gifts of my Host.
We have only the reality of our empty soul cupboards when we take His gifts for granted or too far. It is in our emptiness we find the truth. We allow our flesh to empty our soul cupboard. When we keep our heart, mind, and soul on Him, the pantry and cupboards overflow with the grace and mercy of the Father.
I lean over a little further, driving my chin into my chest. Arching my back to see it… I see it… I quickly snap my head away. It is Him… He got my attention… I fall in worship to the God of all; Omnipotent everywhere. Including inside me… refilling the empty cupboard of my soul.
“Come on in… Have a seat… What can I get you?
“I have plenty”…
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 3:33 am
I think when we come to the end of ourselves and realize we have nothing then we realize we have everything and He is all we need.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 6:53 am
Exactly, Bill. Unfortunately I tend to forget and let the flesh outrun the wisdom. In the end, I can only imagine looking back with even more wisdom. I don’t think it stops while we’re here… Thanks, Bill.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 4:59 am
powerful post!
In the past four years or so I’ve been eating ton’s of humble pie. I needed it more than I realized and while it gave me a stomach ache at first, it now feels pretty good to realize I don’t have to be in control, I don’t have to stock the cabinets…it’s all about God!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 6:54 am
How true, and I’m with you on being competent to being the judge at the humble pie eating contest! When we leave it up to our Father we always have more than we need. Up to us? It’s a ghost town in the cabinets of our souls… Thanks, TC. Well said.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 11:04 am
From one whose run ‘on empty’ many times, I hear you, Brother! We know when the stock in the cupboard is running low, and we need to make a trip to The Grocer! To keep a full cupboard, we must come daily to purchase (for free) all that He offers us in bread and living water. Only then, can we invite others to dine with us in His goodness and mercy and grace.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 5:05 pm
Wow, Jillie. That was awesome! That was poetic and theologically a home run! Well said, sister. Well said. Thanks.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 12:41 pm
I’m guilty of trying to use his gifts for my own glory. It’s too easy to serve myself. That’s one thing that God is teaching me lately – to truly desire to bring him glory and him alone.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 5:07 pm
I’m with you, Loren. If we are who we are, there is no comfort or success outside of His glory, not ours. We’re all in this together. Thanks, Loren.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 1:35 pm
Definitely know what you mean, Floyd. I think my kids getting into our pantry. I certainly don’t mind them grabbing food when they’re hungry, but they leave everything open and sometimes out. It’s one thing for me to see it and put it up, but other times it goes bad or stale because of the mishandling. I’ve done the same to my Father. I’m just hungry and don’t care about what comes next. Reminds me of the Psalm 131:2, “Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me.” I can wait instead of screaming about it. I can trust Him to provide. Thanks Floyd.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 5:09 pm
What a great verse, Jason. Mishandling is a daily occurrence in this flesh, sometimes we have to take a step back and realize if we’re feeling empty it’s because our flesh has gotten in the way. Thanks, Jason.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 5:37 pm
Reading your post made me think about the importance of being a steward of our gifts, time, and what we do. You have me thinking. Thanks man!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 7:03 pm
Glad to hear it, Dan. We all need to think. I was thinking plenty heavy when I wrote it! You’re right. It’s all about His gifts that come from and are for Him. Thanks, Dan.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 6:19 pm
At my bible study last night we talked about being content when we are full and content when we are empty. When discontentment settles into our hearts it’s because we have tried to stock our cupboard’s ourselves. Great post brother, think I will read it at our next bible study.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 7:05 pm
Wow. I’d be honored, Betty… even if it was in a weak moment of my life. That’s real. We all have those times when God wakes us up to our flesh. Filling the cabinets of our souls can only happen one way… Him. Thanks, Betty.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 6:53 pm
Learning to rejoice and count our blessings even when it seems our cupboard is bare is the secret to having our gifts multiply. Covet the best gifts said Paul, and which is the best gift? It is the one needed at the time. Like the loaves and fishes may your cupboard keep filled with peace, joy, abundance, provision, health and even wealth enough to share.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 7:07 pm
What a beautiful blessing, Hazel. Thank you so much. May you receive those same blessings in multiple as God heaps His blessings on your loving heart. You’re a good friend and sister. And you know I love the wisdom. Thanks again, Hazel. You bless me.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 7:13 pm
This is very well written and thought-provoking, Floyd. The key, of course, is to ask the HOly Spirit to fill the cupboard of our soul to overflowing. I tend to keep the larder full, but with the wrong things lining the cupboard shelves–like perfectionism, jealousy, vapidity, depression, self-centeredness. Need I go on? I”m asking God to empty my shelves of self and fill them to over-flowing with HIM! When He fills us up, then the gifts we remove from the shelves to share, will be in adundant supply, ever replenishing–like those jars of oil we read about in the Bible. Great post! Thank you.
Blessings,
Lynn
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 7:38 pm
Well said, sister. The things we can fill the shelves with are as shallow as the shelves themselves… It is only the hand of God that can overflow our souls with His love, mercy, and grace. Yes. Just like the jars of oil never ending. Amazing heart and passion, Lynn. Needed to help us focus on Him. Thank you.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 7:59 pm
When reading this I was thinking about how much we should be grateful for. Well I should say me, because God has blessed us with so much ability and creativity but yet sometimes its just not there. Its missing and we go searching for it. I think sometimes we are driven by circumstance and not actually prompted by him. We go with the motions looking for something to be solved. I felt this message and it has me realizing how full I should be, but sometimes I go searching and feel empty. Then I realize my sins are forgiven. Thanks Floyd!
Thursday, January 31, 2013 @ 5:42 pm
Your welcome, Lincoln. I’m not surprised to find that you have the same issues. We’re cut from God’s special hand for a specific purpose, we just have to keep our eye on Him. Thanks, Lincoln.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 7:59 pm
Wow! Lives as shallow as shallow shelves. Powerful, Floyd!
Thursday, January 31, 2013 @ 5:43 pm
Well, you know… the blind squirrel thing…
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 9:21 pm
That reminds me….I love making my daily
trip to the Banqueting table described in Psalms 23…. He restoreth my soul~!
Thursday, January 31, 2013 @ 5:44 pm
Well said, Nancy. The place where all of us should desire first… I think maybe God uses you to keep me in check! Thanks, Nancy.
Thursday, January 31, 2013 @ 3:57 pm
Powerful post! I love it. And so inspiring! You wouldn’t believe, I just wrote out a 500-word outline for marriage post after reading it.
Thursday, January 31, 2013 @ 5:45 pm
That’s awesome, Ngina! Wow. Amazing how God works! He can take a broken time in a person’s life and use it to inspire the lives that He’s so intended… How cool is that? Thanks for sharing that, Ngina. It goes a long way.
Monday, February 4, 2013 @ 2:16 pm
Totally amazing how He works! it’s astounding, the kind of things He creates out of the broken pieces of our lives. Thanks for sharing and inspiring us to want more and reach for more.
Monday, February 4, 2013 @ 7:06 pm
We’re all in this together, Ngina. I appreciate the fellowship and revelations God is unfolding in you through your writing. Thanks and you’re welcome, my sister.
Thursday, January 31, 2013 @ 5:16 pm
When we think of God as ever-present our soul cupboard will remain full. Why? Because the feeling of emptiness comes from past regrets or future worries. Stay present and we’ll be replenished.
Thursday, January 31, 2013 @ 5:50 pm
“Emptiness comes from past regrets or future worries.” Wow. That sums it up well, Dan. Your life has certainly given you a ton of wisdom, my friend. I appreciate you sharing it here. Thanks, Dan.