Many of you may occasionally fall into bed drained...totally depleted from giving yourself to others. For some, this is not a some-time occurrence, but a regular habit. If you are one who never feels your energies are replenished or your body revitalized, why? Do you give too much?

Maybe not. The problem may be that, although you love to give, you have never learned to receive. Through long years of ministry I have learned that the two are equally important. Both giving and receiving are not only essential to maintain a healthy, creative career and personal life, but are an important part of our spiritual life, too.

Jesus knew how to receive. When the woman anointed His head with oil and wiped His feet with her tears, He highly commended her. When Mary poured a pound of rare perfume all over Him at Lazarus' house, Jesus defended her.

Allowing ourselves to receive from others or from God can be a truly humbling experience. Sometimes, walls of inner defenses have to come down. It may seem more comfortable to give than to learn to receive. You start by letting God give to you. This is why the Apostle Paul prayed:

"(That you may really come) to know - practically, through experience for yourselves - the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge (without experience); that you may be filled (through all your being) unto all the fullness of God...and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself" (Ephesians 3:19, AMPC).

As you allow yourself to receive a deeper measure from God you will also learn to let others give to you.

Heavenly Father, like You, I love to give. Help me learn to receive...to be refreshed and revitalized by You, and by my brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ, so I can maintain a ministry of service and love until You come. In Jesus' Name, Amen.