But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.  The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.  John 4:14 ESV

Is the glass half empty, or half full?  

We use this illustration to determine if someone is pessimistic or optimistic.  The truth is, it doesn't matter what we see.  The glass is always completely full.  It is filled with either water or air, or a combination of the two.  When you add more water, some air is removed.  When you remove some water, more air is added.  

Our hearts are the same way.  They can be filled with regret, shame, anger or bitterness.  They can also be filled with love, hope, compassion or gratitude.  The question is how can we add in the better things?

I used to see myself as a constant disappointment.  Forget New Year's Resolutions!  I was making daily resolutions — to be more patient, to forgive better, to pray more, to serve more willingly.  

But my sin, my self-centeredness, and the cares of this world, always distracted me from these goals.  Each day I battled my sin, and each day I failed in some way.  I grieved over my sin, and I truly desired to be the person God created me to be.  It felt like this was my life verse:

For I do not understand my own actions.  For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate...For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Romans 7:15-19 ESV

But at just the right time, this verse encouraged me:  

Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you…I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:3, 5 ESV

We cannot empty ourselves of sin.  We must be filled with something better.   As Jesus abides in us, we are filled with something better than ourselves.  In order to flee from wrong, we must pursue the Lord.  As we do this, our focus shifts from ourselves to Him.  And when we are filled with Him, the outpouring of our hearts will be such beautiful fruit:  

… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control... Galatians 5:22-23a ESV

Next time you are struggling with your feelings, stop; focus on the Lord, remember His Great Love.  

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:8 ESV

Dearest Lord, thank You for writing Your Word on our hearts.  Thank You for loving us enough to lay down Yourself for us – help us to learn how to lay down ourselves for YOU.  Grow us in godliness so that we can glorify you and tell the Gospel story with our lives.