This morning, during my quiet time, I found myself asking God what to write about next. There have been so many blessings lately—so many reflections stirring in my heart—yet I couldn’t seem to settle on a single direction. I kept scrolling through my blog topic list, the one where I jot down ideas whenever God stirs me with a thought, but nothing felt quite right.
So, I decided to pause. I got up from my desk and headed to the fridge, remembering there was some pasalubong (a little take-home treat) from my sister the night before. To my delight, it was a cheesecake. Not just any cheesecake, but the exact one I had been craving just two days earlier at a coffee shop.
I can’t explain the joy I felt in that moment. It wasn’t just about having cheesecake. It felt like a sweet, personal miracle—an answered prayer I didn’t even insist on asking for.
In awe, I messaged my partner:
Praise God, my sister brought home the cheesecake I wanted to try—God is amazing!
But when he read my message, he asked me back:
“Brought by the Lord?”
At first, I immediately corrected, because what I meant to write was “brought by my sister.” But when I reread my message, I realized that it was actually the truest version. Because yes, ultimately, the Lord is the One who provided.
In that simple moment, God reminded me of His kindness, His attention to detail, and His way of filling my life with little surprises. I didn’t need the cheesecake. I wasn’t desperately longing for it. But He gave it to me anyway, as if to say:
“I see you, I love you, and I care about even the smallest desires of your heart.”
That small, tender moment—receiving a cheesecake I hadn’t even asked for—led me to reflect on a deeper rhythm God is teaching me:
The rhythm of being filled and then poured out.
Just as I received unexpected joy from Him—He fills us with His love, joy, provision, and wisdom—not for us to hoard, but to share our testimony and overflow in good works for others.
And so today, I want to share with you three key lessons I’ve been learning from God’s Fill-then-Pour Rhythm—especially during my sabbatical, where God has been reshaping my perspective on rest, provision, and stewardship.
Lesson 1: God Fills Us Beyond Our Needs
The cheesecake reminded me of a beautiful truth: God doesn’t just provide what we need; He often delights in giving us more.
When Solomon asked God for wisdom to rule the people, the Lord gave him wisdom—and so much more (1 Kings 3:11–13). In the same way, when we come to Him asking only for what’s necessary, He sometimes surprises us with blessings we didn’t even dare to request.
Two days before I saw that cheesecake, I had been at a coffee shop with my partner for afternoon quiet time. I had actually seen the Oreo cheesecake on display, and yes, I wanted it. But I decided against buying it—not because I couldn’t afford it, but because I didn’t feel the need to indulge again. I chose another dessert, enjoyed my coffee, and left satisfied.
Yet God, in His goodness, still gave me the cheesecake later through my sister. Not because I earned it. Not because I was desperate for it. But simply because He loves to remind His children of His care.
Sometimes we think of God only as a provider of our needs. And that’s true—He faithfully provides daily bread (Matthew 6:11). But He’s also a Father who loves to give good gifts (Matthew 7:11). He fills us not just to survive, but to flourish.
For me, that cheesecake was a symbol: God doesn’t just meet the bare minimum. He fills us to the brim, sometimes even to overflowing.
Reflection for you: What is one small, unexpected blessing you’ve received lately that reminded you of God’s care? Pause and thank Him for it.
Lesson 2: Filling Always Comes Before Pouring
Before my sabbatical, my rhythm in life was this: work hard, pour out all my energy, then try to refill during weekends, vacations, or retreats. It was a constant cycle of depletion and recovery.
But as I’ve been resting with God daily in this sabbatical season, He has been teaching me that His rhythm is different. In His design, we are meant to be filled first—then pour.
Think of Jesus’ words in John 15:5:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Fruit doesn’t come from striving. It comes from staying connected to the Source—being filled by His life, His Spirit, His Word. Then, naturally, the branch produces fruit that blesses others.
This rhythm is also embedded in the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37–39):
- First: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. (Filling)
- Then: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Pouring)
If we skip the first step—if we neglect to be filled—we will have nothing of true value to pour out. We’ll end up exhausted, dry, and frustrated.
During this sabbatical, I’ve experienced what it means to be filled by God daily. Quiet mornings in prayer. Long hours in Scripture. Unhurried time journaling and reflecting. And because I’m filled, my “pouring” is no longer out of emptiness, but out of overflow. Even my trips and gatherings now feel less like escapes for rest and more like opportunities for mission—since true rest is already found in Him.
Reflection for you: Are you trying to pour out without being filled? What’s one way you can intentionally let God fill you this week—through prayer, Scripture, worship, or simply quieting your soul before Him?
Lesson 3: Stewardship Is Pouring with Purpose
When God provides, He doesn’t just ask us to enjoy it; He also asks us to steward it well.
Before entering my sabbatical, I spent time preparing and budgeting. At first, I thought of my savings as “my money.” I wanted to be strategic, logical, and wise about how to stretch it across the year—planning for trips, family events, and daily expenses.
But as the weeks passed, God shifted my heart. He reminded me: “This provision isn’t yours. It’s Mine. I gave it to you. And I want you to use it for My glory.”
So now, whenever I spend from my sabbatical fund, I ask:
- Lord, how do You want me to use this?
- Will this glorify You?
- Will this help me grow closer to You or advance Your Kingdom?
Even in simple decisions—like whether to treat myself to something or join a trip—I’ve learned to weigh them not just against my budget, but against God’s purpose.
And here’s what I discovered: when I surrender my resources to Him, I don’t feel deprived. Instead, I feel even more provided for. Because God doesn’t just want to fill me with things—He wants to fill me with purpose.
Pouring out what He has given—whether finances, time, or energy—is not a loss. It’s an act of worship. It’s aligning my life with His Kingdom rhythm: filled to pour, and poured to glorify Him.
Reflection for you: What has God entrusted to you right now—money, time, skills, relationships—that He’s asking you to pour out with purpose?
Closing Thoughts: Living in God’s Rhythm
The cheesecake was small, but the lesson was big: God fills and God pours. And He invites us to live in that rhythm with Him.
- He fills us beyond our needs. Not only with physical provision, but with love, peace, and joy.
- He calls us to be filled before we pour. So that our serving, loving, and giving come from overflow, not emptiness.
- He asks us to pour with purpose. Stewarding His gifts for His glory, not just our comfort.
I’m still learning this rhythm every day. But the more I lean into it, the lighter my steps feel. Life becomes less about striving and more about abiding. Less about scarcity and more about overflow.
And maybe that’s the invitation for you today too: to let God fill you first, so that you can pour freely—knowing that the Source never runs dry.
Your Turn:
Take a few moments this week to reflect on these three questions:
- What small blessing has God given you recently that reminded you of His care?
- How can you intentionally let Him fill you this week before pouring out to others?
- What resource or gift in your life is He calling you to steward and pour out for His glory?
May you experience the sweetness of His filling, and the joy of pouring out in His name. 💛
Join Me in Sharing God’s Love
It’s now been two months since I started writing here, and I just want to pause and thank God for each of you who reads, subscribes, or leaves a comment. Every message, every “like,” every share encourages me to keep writing and pouring out what God has been filling me with. Truly, you remind me that I’m not walking this journey alone.
My mission is simple: to reach more people with the hope of Jesus and to help grow a community of believers who encourage one another toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). I believe that as we share stories of God’s faithfulness, we become part of something bigger—building up the body of Christ, one word and one testimony at a time.
If today’s reflection blessed you, would you consider helping me in this mission?
- Like this post if it resonated with you.
- Leave a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts and reflections.
- Subscribe so you won’t miss new posts as I continue this sabbatical journey.
- Share this blog with a friend or loved one who might need encouragement today.
Your support doesn’t just encourage me personally—it also helps this little corner of the internet reach more people who are searching for peace, purpose, and the love of Christ. Together, we can spread His Word and build each other up, all for His glory.
Thank you for walking with me here. Let’s continue to live in God’s rhythm—filled by Him, poured out for others. 💛
Faithfully,
Yani 💛
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- How Do We Serve with Love in Ministry? 3 Ways to Guard Our Words and Build Others Up
- How to Handle Success Without Losing Sight of God: 3 Guidelines to Help You Stay Faithful
- How I Start My Day with God: My Morning Routine as a Christian Writer (and Why It Matters)
- Why I Took a Sabbatical at the Peak of My Career (And 4 Things to Consider Before You Do Too)
- God’s Faithfulness in the Wilderness: What My Sabbatical Taught Me About Rest and Provision
- One Faithful Day at a Time: Building a Routine Anchored in Christ
- When God Asks You to Move: The Cost, the Peace, and the Promise
- Afraid of Failing God? 3 Truths to Remember About Our Weakness and His Grace
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