Ok . . . so they’re probably not images that we think of a whole lot . . . or maybe even really took note of when we saw it . . . but I think we all have seen them . . . and understand them . . . let me try and explain a couple of them. First, it’s the baby or toddler in the high chair at feeding time . . . you dip the little spoon in the food and then you hold it up in front of the little one and . . . “boing!” . . . their mouth flies open in anticipation . . . you move the spoon around and the open mouth follows it as if to say, “Here! Put ‘er here! It’s open . . . it’s as wide as I can get it . . . deliver that sumptuous pabulum right here!” Or how about eating snowflakes? Ever been there . . . ever seen that? . . . ever done that? The first major snowfall of the year . . . big, wet, individually crafted snowflakes floating down . . . and with faces turned to heaven . . . mouths opened as wide as you can stretch them . . . you pursue those luscious flakes of water . . . taking in as many as you can . . . until you’re almost too dizzy to stand up. Get the picture? . . . Now read this . . .

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.  (Psalm 81:10  ESV)

When I’m reading in the morning, amongst other things I’m on the look out for “commands to obey” and “promises to claim.” So how’s that for a command to obey . . . “Open your mouth wide” . . . how’s that for a promise to claim . . . “I will fill it.” Amen and amen!

So often I walk with my eyes fixed ahead and my mouth closed. Not really zombie like ’cause I know that this is the day the Lord has made and I seek to rejoice and be glad in it . . . but, if I’m honest, I’m thinking more about how to get through than I am about how to fill up. Not much sense of anticipation . . . not much “wonder factor” happening . . . not really full to the brim, but not really looking to get full either.

But what if I approached each day, not wide-eyed, but wide-mouthed? What if, after feeding on the word in the morning, I got up from my desk, got ready for work, and opened my mouth wide . . . and said, “More, Lord, more!” What if I mastered more the art of thirsting after the things of God (John 7:37) . . . of delighting myself in the Lord’s goodness (Ps. 37:4) . . . of wanting to know more of the love of Christ which passes knowledge (Eph. 3:19)? What if on Sunday mornings when I gathered together with God’s people we came together with heads and hearts turned heaven-ward . . . wide-mouthed to receive the things God has for us . . . whether through our fellowship . . . our musical worship . . . or the preaching of the word? “You do not have, because you do not ask” (James 4:2) . . . how often is Sunday morning meeting just ho-hum because my mouth is closed . . . not seeking to be filled.

But the God of deliverance says, “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” Do I believe the promise? He says that He will fill . . . satisfy . . . fulfill . . . complete . . . accomplish. God sees the mouth opened wide . . . He knows the thirsting after heaven . . . He’s aware of the hungering after righteousness . . . and He fills it . . . hits the mark . . . tops it up . . . “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Ps. 34:8)

He is the Filler . . . I am to be the mouth-opener.

Father, thank You for this bit of encouragement this morning. I confess that so often the “stuff” of day-to-day life has me distracted from living in anticipation of the day You have before me. My desire is to be more wide-mouthed . . . to seek more the filling You have for me . . . to thirst after You and to be satisfied in You alone . . . for Your glory . . . amen!