How Heavy is Your Cup?

As I’m maturing and doing much reflecting, I’m learning we have to weigh our cup. Do we have a lot in there or do we need a refill? Are we halfway or are we overflowing? And I know you are wondering, “Niya, why are we talking about cups?” What if I told you the cup is you? Are you checking in on yourself and making sure you’re good? Or are you just worrying about everything and everybody around you?

At times, we can be too concerned about others but neglecting ourselves. How can we pour into someone else if we’re empty or half empty ourselves? We’ll be completely drained and lost, meanwhile we’ve fueled them and we have nothing left to give. As we approach 2026, it’s time we take better care of ourselves: physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. God tells us to look after one another, but he also knows we need to take care of ourselves as well.

I want to share the powerful verse Mark 1:35 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Even Jesus had to start His day off with prayer and fill His cup up, before He went out and spread the power God has given Him into others. Wouldn’t you think it is the same for us? We need to be fed something powerful first, before we can even think about spreading that power unto others. Do you think Jesus would have been able to go out to do His teaching and healing, had He not fed Himself spiritually first?

So now, that leaves me with these two questions, that we should all reflect on. What are you filling your cup with and what is draining your cup? Are you filling your cup with God everyday, or with negativity? Are you giving advice to a friend and you know you have a lot going on mentally? Are you filling your cup up with love or with hate? Are you draining your cup with constantly worried about the past, and the things that have gone wrong? Is your cup overflowing or completely empty? What are YOU feeding yourself?

It’s time for a change. It’s time that we fill ourselves first and then pour into someone else. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with serving your community and others, but serve you first. You need you… take care of you the way Jesus take care of you. It’s okay to say no sometimes, it doesn’t make you a bad person. Take care my ForevaBlack family, until next time!