Fullness, by Lori Altebaumer
“… that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19 NKJV
The season is upon us. You know the one.
The one where our calendars are full and so are our tummies. We hustle and bustle. We deck the halls and dish the desserts.
Ahhh … the holidays. The season of fullness.
We jam our calendars to fill with decorating, shopping, social gatherings, and innumerable other holiday festivities. Then, we load our plates with candy and calories.
We are full to the point of being over-full.
Unfortunately, this is a fullness that leaves us empty.
As we slip into those stretchy pants on a cold January morning, exhausted and feeling as though something is missing, we are left wondering how another Christmas came and went without the joy of a silent night or the harkening to hear a herald angel sing.
After weeks of being full, we find ourselves feeling quite empty.
What if we went after the Word of God as eagerly as we consumed those mounded plates of sugar cookies? Suppose we sought after truth as diligently as we searched the internet or store aisles for Christmas gifts? What if we were as passionate about scheduling time with Jesus as we were planning holiday dinner parties?
Stay the course
I’m a Texan, and let me assure you if someone sets a basket of chips and a bowl of salsa in front of me, I will “stay the course,” persevering until that basket is empty. I am never too full for one more crisp chip dipped in tasty salsa.
But do I treat my time with the Lord with the same enthusiasm? Am I as committed to getting every last delicious morsel he has for me as I am to consuming those unhelpful carbs?
It is an interesting paradox that the more I allow the fullness of God to fill me, the less desire I have for the earthly things I am tempted to fill myself with.
This holiday season let’s fill up with the fullness of God. Let’s fill our calendars with times of prayer and reflection and our plates with the Word of God. Let’s gorge ourselves on thoughts of his glory and squeeze every drop of his goodness from the banquet he sets before us.
Let our most treasured gift in the coming days be the peace and joy of finding ourselves filled with the fullness of God.
What a sweet thought that is!
About the author…
Her first novel, A Firm Place to Stand, released in January 2020. In between writing, Lori enjoys traveling with her husband and visiting her adult children where she can rummage through their refrigerators and food pantries while complaining there’s nothing good to eat here.
Sign up for Lori’s most excellent newsletter…
Read more The Word on Wednesday from Lori…
I love the piece on fullness. It is so true. Every year I’m vowing to be quiet and every year Christmas comes and goes and I am tired and full of the wrong things. Thank you for sharing
Thank you Hilda. This year I pray for the peace that passes understanding to saturate you holidays, filling your moments with the love of Christ and the presence of our Heavenly Father so that you are satisfied in every good way, and that you arrive on the other side of this season feeling blessed beyond measure!
I totally agree.
Thank you for the reminder to feast at his table, to be filled with his goodness. I needed the reminder today.
Thank you Karen. As always, I’m speaking to myself when I write these things. Count me guilty of needing this reminder too.