Empty Feeders

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
-Romans 15:13

​I looked out the window this morning and noticed that all my bird feeders were empty. 

I keep six out in the yard that are regularly used. Any day you look out there, you'll see at least a cup of black oil sunflower seeds, shelled peanuts, or a half pecked suet cake. Many days, everything is brimming full, because I love the look of it and I love the life it brings. 

But this time, all was empty. I don't know exactly when it happened. Maybe there was a lot of need from the birds the last few days. Or maybe it was more because I wasn't paying attention for this past week. But some way or another, it was all empty. 

And that made me sad, because a full feeder, in a weird way, fills my soul. It reminds me of God's provision for me and the earth. It reminds me that God's eye is on the sparrow. It reminds me that life is all around me, if I take time to notice and care. It reminds me that beauty and color are still out there, even in the darkening days and cooling air. For whatever reason, a full feeder moves me toward life in Jesus. 

So noticing six bare, empty feeders was actually a little alarming. I felt the need to stop what I was doing and take some time to fill them up. For my sake. For the birds' sake. Really, for the sake of everyone and everything. 

I want to invite you to look out the window today and take notice, friends. What do you see? Are there wells within your soul that have gone empty? Have jobs, tasks, responsibilities, global worries, and exhaustion depleted the spaces in you that bring joy and connection with Jesus?
Have you been going strong for a long time, and realize that you've been pouring out energy and not receiving the love and care needed to sustain it? 

Jesus longs to pour his spirit into you so that color, joy, and life can flourish. But we are so formed by the busyness, distractions, and responsibilities of life that we convince ourselves we don't have time to receive the good gift. 
Or, we simply forget that it's even available to us in the first place. You have the time to ask Jesus to fill your soul, friends. You have the time to rest and be known. You are given it as a gift of grace. If you notice you're empty, take time to be filled. 

At the risk of sounding too pragmatic, I'll offer a few simple ways that this could look for you today: 

• Take a prayer walk. Look around and receive God's beauty around you, with a particular awareness that you are a part of God's beautiful creation, too. 
• Page through the Psalms until something relates to your own feelings. Slow down and pray it personally with gratitude, and invite Jesus to recalibrate your soul. 
• Do some imaginative prayer. Close your eyes and consider the situations that are depleting you. Imagine Jesus physically there in them with you. What is his expression? What words is he offering you? How is he sheltering you from harm? Receive God's care. 
• Text a friend who you love spending time with but haven't seen lately. In the next 3 days choose to get coffee or share a happy hour with no agenda except connection. Receive God's gift of community. 
• Stop doomscrolling and turn that thing off. 

Take a bit of time to partner with God in filling up some empty feeders in your life. Receive it all as a gift, and look around for new life emerging this week as you do.
You are beloved.

Jesus, fill the depleted places in my soul today. I trust you. 

Peace,
Keith

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