Have you ever seen the movie Hope Floats with Sandra Bullock? It’s been years since I have seen it, but there was one phrase from that movie that has always stuck with me, “My cup runneth over.” To be honest with you, I don’t entirely remember the context of when this line was said, but I do remember it was when the grandmother was hugging her granddaughter.
She said this in a moment of peace and thankfulness, her heart at rest holding her granddaughter.
Of course, this character was also quoting from Psalm 23:5 which says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
Beautiful, isn’t it?
It’s a complete reliance and trust on God, recognizing that He alone is the One who provides for our every need.
Can I be honest with you? My cup often overflows, but I do not think it is with thankfulness. Instead, it can so easily overflow with bitterness, frustration, jealousy, annoyance, and so much more. Am I the only one who feels this way?
See, I find myself a bit torn today with all these terrible tragedies in the world. I want to focus on those, to let my emotions get caught up in the anger or the darkness that seems to be spreading, but today I was brought up short. As I sat here looking at this blinking cursor I simply talked to the Lord and asked Him what I should write about. I felt fresh out of ideas, but then one word came to mind.
Praise.
Really, Lord? Okay then.
I turned to my Bible and flipped toward Psalms, my eyes landing on Psalm 105. All through this Psalm a younger me has underlined and written little notes in the margins. Phrases like “He is faithful,” “we are set apart,” “truth wins out,” “He is my Provider,” and most importantly a reminder … “Look to Him in all things and see His hand at work.”
In a way, I stopped short at those words, my eyes grazing over the Psalm, and my heart lifted a little. I read through it once, and then again. Sure enough, our God is faithful and our cups can overrun with good things when we praise Him.
Take a moment and read the first 6 verses of Psalm 105.
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones! – Psalm 105:1-6
Did you notice the same things I noticed, the commands so clearly stated?
Give thanks. Call upon His name. Make known His deeds. Sing to Him. Sing praises. Tell of His wondrous works. Glory in His holy name. Let the heart rejoice. Seek the Lord. Seek His strength. Seek His presence continually. Remember His work. Remember what He has done. Remember His miracles. Remember His judgements.
It’s interesting how giving thanks can lift the heart. It reminds us to not focus on ourselves, it reminds us to call on the Lord and can remind us to tell others of what He has done.
And when we sing, does it not remind our souls to be lifted? Cannot music influence the soul, and when we sing to the Lord is there any greater way to rejoice?
And when we speak of the wonders He has performed in your life, can you not help but rest in the glory of who He is?
And when your heart begins to stand in awe of Him, doesn’t it start to rejoice? And then then you seek Him even more, you seek Him with all your heart and you realize He is your strength.
And when you remember who He is, what our great God has done, the miracles He performed and His mighty work on the cross, can you not help but begin to smile?
Suddenly, and maybe it’s just me, but by going through that check list of commands, I begin to feel my heart grow lighter. See the world is dark right now, but it always has been, ever since the Fall.
But you know what? By turning to the Lord the world is made a little brighter. His light in us breaks through the darkness.
Now cling to Him and give thanks, call on Him, tell of Him, sing to Him, rejoice in Him, seek Him, and remember Him. But most importantly, PRAISE HIM—for when you praise Him, you just might find that something quite different filling your cup.
And just like that … hope will runneth over.
