Do you sometimes feel you have nothing left to give? Like life is being sucked out of you?
"The process of being made broken bread and poured-out wine means that you have to be the nourishment for other people’s souls until they learn to feed on God. They must drain you completely— to the very last drop."
Some people are high maintenance and if this quote by Oswald Chambers is true, then it is up to the person who is replenishing themselves with God to become exhausted. To be completely honest, after reading this sentiment about being nourishment for other people's souls, my heart ached and I was ashamed of my selfishness.
"Jesus," I'd pray, "What is wrong with her? Why does she have to keep calling over and over complaining about the same things? Why doesn't she just change?" I'd beg Jesus to take that high maintenance person out of my life. Her calls would purposely go to voice mail and I'd cringe when listening to the messages. Pray time was spent praying for her soul, for clarity, and for a change in her behavior. But never once did I pray for a change in my attitude.
Being her nourishment, being drained to the last drop like a cup of Maxwell House, frankly does not appeal to me. However, it is something I should consider when examining my exhaustion.
Is this spiritual exhaustion?
Am I exhausted because I'm serving or am I worn down because I've been going about things my way?
Have I taken the time to ask Jesus what He wants me to do or have I been assuming I know what He wants me to do?
When dealing with the high maintenance person, is prayer directed at what I think should change or what Jesus is trying to accomplish? In other words, am I praying for His will and not my own?
Am I praying for God to show me His glory in the person that is grating my nerves? How humble am I?
Being exhausted is sometimes caused by serving, but I think more times than not it is caused by our own pride and selfishness. Today, instead of praying that God change the other person, maybe we should pray for Him to change our hearts.
*Taken from My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers
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