Invitation to Overflow

I ask Jesus for a verb as a birthday present each year.

*Correction.* I have asked Jesus for a verb the last three years. Previously, I think I asked for something more frivolous... like a boyfriend. *AHEM.* Onward.

Truthfully, my birthday used to be a day I dreaded. I recall many birthdays spent listening to the unrelenting voice of my inner critic. A voice that said I hadn't done enough or been enough the previous year.

In 2018, I was ready for change. I was hungry for a WORD from God. A direction. A mission. I prayed for a verb. He gave a good and perfect gift.

"Celebrate" was the first verb I received in October 2018. During my 24th year, Jesus invited me to choose progress over perfection. I intentionally celebrated victories in my own life and the lives of others. It was a joyous year! It set me on a trajectory of prioritizing people over projects. And truthfully, I haven't stopped celebrating since.

"Surrender" was my second verb, bestowed in October 2019. During my 25th year, Jesus invited me to relinquish control. Little did I know how much surrender 2020 would require. Can I get a witness?!? The year has been challenging for us all, yet I'm grateful for every lesson. Surrender refined me. Surrender opened my hands and heart to receive better blessings.

As October 2020 approached, I began praying about and seeking out my verb. It wasn't too long before the repetition of one certain verb caught my eye and caused my ears to perk up. I stumbled upon it everywhere! Sermons. Podcasts. Books. Worship songs. Out of the mouth of my writing instructor. *Insert mind-blown onomatopoeia.* Every time the verb surfaced I got this giddy, yet nervous feeling. I now understand this feeling was passion and purpose colliding.

Okay. Deep breath. Are you ready?

My verb for year 26 is OVERFLOW.

Jesus is inviting me to overflow.

He's challenging me to extend beyond my borders. He's calling me to be more than full. He's beckoning me to flood every venture with generosity.

As I've been preparing to accept this invitation, Jesus has made three clear impressions on my heart about living out overflow.

1. Overflow is messy.

As my life overflows, I'm going to miss the mark often. I'm going to make many messes. Perhaps I'll spill my energy into a dead-end endeavor. Perhaps I'll splash into a faith-testing situation. Perhaps I'll sprinkle advice on someone in a moment when all they seek is affirmation. There are messages in these messes.

I spilled a lot as a child. Honestly, the fact I can eat without a bib (most of the time) now is monumental. In those vulnerable childhood moments, I didn't need to be reprimanded. I needed to be reminded I was more than the mess I made. I needed support through the clean-up process. I needed reassurance the mess didn't mar the whole day; I still had permission to laugh and play.

In this year of overflow, I must acknowledge the messes. Without them, there isn't a need for transformation. One thing I love about Jesus is He is not turned off by messes. He never turns down an opportunity to help clean them up. In fact, the whole reason God robed himself in flesh, ministered on the earth, died an excruciating death, and rose three days later was because we couldn't stop making messes. And He's still meeting us smack dab in the middle of our messes today. Somebody shout GLORAYYY!

I like to imagine Jesus as that one guy in a restaurant who claps and cheers obnoxiously when you spill your drink. You may experience initial embarrassment until you realize he's not mocking you. He's reminding you you're human. The mess wasn't a big deal. There are free refills!

2. Overflow requires continual connection to a source.

To overflow, I have to continuously be connected to my Source. I will only be able to pour out as rapidly as I'm being refilled. Wowza, my own strength depletes so fast! My own goodness is fickle. My own righteousness is fleeting. Thankfully, I'm not dependent on my own resources. Being a Spirit-filled believer grants me access to unlimited resources- unlimited strength, unlimited goodness, unlimited righteousness.

Isaiah 58: 11 says:

"The Lord will guide you continually,

And satisfy your soul in drought,

And strengthen your bones;

You shall be like a watered garden,

And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."

In this year of overflow, I acknowledge drought may come. Everything may appear dusty and dry. There may be health struggles, financial struggles, work struggles, ministry struggles, and relationship struggles. Even still, I can overflow knowing Jesus is my Source. He will satisfy my soul. He will strengthen me from the inside-out. He will grant me garden-like growth. He will make me like a dependable spring of water. I will overflow because I'm connected to my Source and His Spirit flows through me.

3. Overflow defeats scarcity.

I've always known Jesus is my Source and through Him I have more than enough. I haven't always lived like it though.

Far too often, I have functioned as a faucet instead of a fountain. Turning on the flow only when I felt ready and willing. Cutting off the flow when I perceived I had poured enough out. I have played small. I have questioned whether I have enough or AM enough. I have withheld from fully showing up for fear of giving away irrecoverable pieces of myself.

Underfunctioning and playing small are results of a scarcity mindset. Scarcity deceptively whispers "There is not enough for you and not enough of you." Scarcity is not godly.

In John 10:10, Jesus states "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it ABUNDANTLY."

Jesus came to give life abundantly. Life in excess. Life with more than enough. Life that returns what was stolen. Life that revives deadness. Life that repairs brokenness. Life that transforms faucets into fountains. Overflowing life.

This year, I'm ditching my scarcity mindset and adopting an abundance mindset. I will choose to believe there is enough for me and enough of me.

In one of my favorite passages of scripture, Paul encourages the people of Corinth to live generously. He writes:

"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." -2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NKJV)

In this year of overflow, I will sow bountifully. I will give cheerfully and purposefully. As God's grace abounds in my life, I will have abundance for every good work. Overflow will be evident in who I am and how I am. Evident in my character and actions.

Jesus is inviting me to overflow.

• Overflow in love

• Overflow in hospitality

• Overflow in joy

• Overflow in service

• Overflow in peace

• Overflow in conversations

• Overflow in patience

• Overflow in worship

• Overflow in kindness

• Overflow in song

• Overflow in goodness

• Overflow in writing

• Overflow in faithfulness

• Overflow in giving

• Overflow in gentleness

• Overflow in teaching

• Overflow in self-control

• Overflow in coaching

• Overflow in rest

• Overflow in His presence

When the distorted voice of scarcity tries to convince me there's no way to fulfill this mission, I'll remind myself of who gave the gift. The Great I AM is more than enough.

On October 2, 2020 I woke up knowing my verb. My direction. My mission. I woke up praising Jesus for my good and perfect gift. This year just feels different. Different because "overflow" is not intended to be lived out by me for me. Rather, overflow is meant to be spilled, splashed, sprinkled, showered, and sloshed on everyone I encounter. Overflow is for me AND you. If you aren't ready for the waterworks, simply grab an umbrella!

So... Hi! I'm Alaina (by the way). Thank you for being here! I just want to say "Welcome to Overflow." I'm accepting the invitation to a messy, soul-satisfying, abundant year.

Will you?