Fill My Cup

Growing up in a Seventh-day Adventist home, the value of Christian education was always promoted in our home and in church. Developing a relationship with Christ and a knowledge that He is our Saviour and friend was emphasized at home, at Sabbath School, and throughout the week at our Seventh-day Adventist school. We can all agree that a love for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is first cultivated in the home by parents, then reinforced in church and school. As a young person, I enjoyed the school’s Week of Prayer. This gave some the first opportunity to reflect on how good our God had been to us and decisions were made to commit our lives to Christ. There are reasons why we remember some things early in life, and I remember one Week of Prayer that was conducted by a local pastor, and particularly the theme song for that week, “Fill My Cup, Lord.” Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up Lord, Come and quench this thirsting of soul, Bread of heaven feed me till I want no more. Fill my cup, Fill it up and make me whole. 

When I was growing up, one of my favorite scriptures was Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” There are no guarantees; however, it is my belief that as much exposure to a loving heavenly Father, who cares for us and wants only the best for us, the better foundation we have in navigating this world. Another favorite text I had growing up was Ecclesiastes 12:1, “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them.’”Again, this scripture lesson reminds us of the need to establish acknowledge our heavenly Father is the source of our strength, wisdom, intellect, ability to earn, capacity to love and to care for others—our everything.

My ultimate passage of scripture that I fall back on when dealing with any situation is Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

I have realized that my Lord knows much better than I how to operate in this world. He also knows best why things occur and I must lean toward His guidance as to what direction to follow.

The flow of events these days is fast and furious. There is a temptation in the busyness of life to spend more time attempting to deal with and understand life events without seeking God’s counsel and spending quality time studying His word and applying it to our lives. I am sure each of us has a favorite scripture that inspires us or gives us hope and direction. Please allow me to encourage you to never forget that ultimately, our heavenly Father knows best. Having a healthy prayer life and studying His word will fill us and cover us when all others are searching for relief and answers. Don’t ever let Him go.

By Philip Palmer, Treasurer/CFO