Affirmation of God: I am full.

Full, satisfied, complete, at peace and thankful are all words that can bring on physical manifestations can’t they? Today in Philippians 4:18 God has focused on a statement by Paul that hits my heart, my soul deep within me. I am full.

At the moment we are full we don’t feel we need anything else do we? Whether it was last night’s chicken wings or our holiday feasts at times we push back from the table and say O boy, I AM FULL. There is no more room for anything else. I may burst.

I am in a weird mood with my affirmations this morning and once again God has taken me to a place I did not plan. Really, I saw an easy target as Philippians 4:13 came up before me and I thought, I can’t believe I have written on over 170 affirmations of God but haven’t written on this one yet??!!  You know this one: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJ) 

God will bring me back to this one day but today he took my weird little mind to other things. I will have to revisit this but have you ever noticed the BIG BUT that comes after this statement? I had not, I will have to write on this one day but Paul makes that statement above and most of us have memorized it and claimed it for our very own and we should. But…

Paul basically is saying I really don’t need anyone or anything but Christ to get this job done. BUT, it was nice you guys could help out. I don’t NEED you but it sure was nice you guys sent me your gifts and supported this mission. Check it out and see what you think. I am way off track here but thought that was interesting.

Another point that Paul makes in this fourth chapter of Philippians is also famous and often quoted in 4:11 is: I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. (NIV) Paul said whether in times of being full or in times of hunger he had LEARNED to be content. Have we learned how to be content regardless of the circumstances? OK, another subject for another day.

What hit me between the eyes or went straight to my heart this morning and where this affirmation was taken was Philippians 4:18.  Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. (NKJ)

Weird but it kind of looked like this to me today:

Blah, Blah, Blah…. I AM FULL.  Blah, Blah, Blah…

I wish I could relay the visual type of experience this was but I had no doubt this was THE POINT God was making to me this morning. I could feel it. I could relate to Paul. I AM FULL. Done, no more room for anything else, I may just burst. Full, satisfied, complete, at peace and thankful, really. I can just push back from the table now and say I am truly full. Do I have many unsettled and stressful things in my life, YES, but yet I AM FULL.

Unlike my belly being full I do not feel the need for a nap. I feel a need to see God be glorified, to see others experience this fullness. I want others to experience this fullness, this peace, yes this contentment that I struggle to explain. Paul said something else I had never noticed before. In 4:17 Paul is thanking them for the gift they had sent to him but he said Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. (NKJ). Guys, I do want to thank you and I am really not seeking your gifts, yes it is nice but really I CAN NOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT GOD IS GOING TO DO IN YOU AND THROUGH YOU because you gave. It was not the gift itself but the heart of giving. They gave yet they are FULL. So full they are getting ready to burst and the world will see more of Him and less of them. Yes I am full today, are you? Thanks for visiting; I can’t wait to see the fruit that is going to abound in you!

Tom Raines

Christian Affirmations 4 Life