Cupcakes
Are you running ragged? Can we pray for you today?
“I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
When my kids eat a cupcake, they don’t actually EAT the cupcake. Usually they eat the icing, the sprinkles, candies and leave the cake part – the “meat” of the cupcake. The icing always seems like the best part. It is so creamy and sugary. Then the kids leave the table, run around like little monkeys on a sugar high for about 30 minutes to an hour.
When that’s over, the crying starts. Or maybe it’s the whining. Or when my kids really crash they start running into things or falling over.
Sound familiar?
I tend to do the same thing with God. I love to get the sweet stuff – all the extras that come with knowing God, but I forget that I really just need Him. I get icing from Him – maybe church service is especially good. Next, I get some sprinkles – a small group or mommies group. Then I get some decorations to make everything look adorable. I add some pretzels for ears, candies for eyes-that’s my conversations with friends, connections that make it seem like a great day.
Now it’s the end of the day. Life has crashed around me. I’m tired. I’m overwhelmed. I’m not feeling confident in my decisions. I question everything from the jeans I wore to if I am a good enough Mom. I’ve just spent the entire day on my sugar high. I filled in all the holes with the extras and the topping. I never ATE the cupcake.
John 15:5 says “I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Although I think this is a “big picture” statement about our salvation, I think it is also a daily statement. Going through the day without Him, we lack the strength to do what we’re called to do. I’d like to encourage you: find time to eat the cupcake. Cupcake all by itself is enough. However, the icing and sprinkles (or heaven forbid – the powdered sugar), they add to the experience, But without the meat of the cupcake, finding time to be with God, you’ll be running around like my little monkeys… just waiting for the sugar crash.
Questions: Are you running ragged and don’t have time for the Lord? Why is it that at the end of the day you are overwhelmed and feeling a lack of confidence?
6 Responses to “Cupcakes”
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Rita, I had a number of classmates in Seminary go off the deep end because they were depending on their studies to be their only time with God and did not nurture a relationship with Him. Seminary is a dangerous head filler if you don’t have the relationship with God to go with it.
This hit me right between the eyes. I am totally overwhelmed at the end of the day. Next week, I start Seminary so I need to take the time to spend with the Lord, aside from Seminary studies.
Thank you for the daily devotional you are sending. It was a great help for me who’s spiritually down. You are right, most of the time I for got to eat the cupcake, but enjoy the icing instead. Now that I wasn’t attending church service it made me realize I will always have the cupcake and that’s all I need. He’s all I need. Thank you. You are a blessing!
This is beautiful written and a beautiful analogy. It made me smile because you’re right. I just want the “icing” from GOD if I could get away with it but I cannot. The Lord wants ME. Alleluia and be blessed.
For me, i get ragged b/c i have to work 2 jobs to make one paycheck every 2 weeks. i have no one helping me. i am an administrator at a Behavioral Center/Asst Dir of a Theraputic Child Parent Community and then have to be on my legs all weekend long working at a retail store. The hours have been cut at my first job so i really have to keep the weekend one. i’ve been at a long pace for the past 3 yrs with no vacations. i get TIRED! Even the LORD rested on the 7th day! i make sure i spend as much time with the LORD as i can. Esp before i start the day and if i don’t fall asleep on the couch, i spend time in the Word at night. i don’t pay much attention to MY lack of confidence as i have FULL confidence in HIM B/C i know this brings HIM deep joy when i do.
And that is exactly how I have been operating, on the sugar rush. I want to eat the cupcake daily. Focusing on Him, my Lord and Saviord and reading and mediating on His word is where I need to be. Stop letting others stop you from eating the up cake.