Sip, Soak, Overflow: The Art of Balanced Devotion

As healthy, Spirit-filled, maturing, born-again, Kingdom believers (and let’s face it, you can’t just say ‘Christian’ these days without clarification)... Let’s call us HSFMBAKBs for short. On second thought, maybe not. That’s a mouthful even to say, let alone remember. Let’s simplify it to “Born Agains” (BA for short) and carry on.

We, as BAs, should rush to the Scriptures with bated breath every single day, as though we’re scavenging for buried treasure. Why? Because the Word is our daily bread, our sustenance, but also because we find deep delight in it.

We’re called not just to delight in the Word but also to derive delights from it. Think of it as enjoying a gourmet meal—not just a necessity, but a joy.

The Bible describes New Testament believers (another description for BAs) as conduits of “rivers of living water.” [ John 7:38 - Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”]

It’s not a one-time flow but a continuous outpouring. This metaphor implies that a healthy BA’s life isn’t just about consuming spiritual food; it’s about producing overflow—something that blesses others too.

But here’s the tricky part: how do we balance between what nourishes us personally and what’s meant to flow outward to others? This isn’t an easy balance to define, because it involves spiritual discernment rather than formulas.

Yet it’s critical to ask these questions because we desire to honour God’s expectations for us as conduits of living water. So, let’s unpack three considerations that can guide us in navigating this balance:

1. The Audience

Here’s the first hard question to ask ourselves: Am I more excited to converse with the Holy Spirit or with people—especially my social media followers? Be truthful with yourself!

It’s a heart check. Do we approach Scripture hungry for God’s voice, or are we subtly crafting captions for Instagram, or sermons for the pulpit? Are we more thrilled about receiving Divine revelation for ourselves or rushing to share it with others? The danger here is subtle but real: prioritising public applause over private devotion.

Remember, we aren’t called to be content creators for the Kingdom; we’re called to be contented in the Kingdom.

There’s a huge difference. Before broadcasting anything, we need to ensure our primary joy comes from the intimate conversation with God, not the likes, shares, or human recognition.

2. The Motive

Let’s face it: our motives can often get muddled. Did I open my Bible to truly know God and be transformed, or was my primary goal to gather something I could share? While sharing isn’t inherently wrong, our first priority must always be to simply sit at the feet of Jesus.

“Motive” is similar to “Audience,” but there’s a distinct difference. Audience addresses who your focus is on—your followers, listeners, or God Himself. Motive, however, addresses where your focus has come from—the source of your intention, the “why” behind your actions. Is your motivation rooted in a genuine hunger for God, or is it driven by external expectations, a need for validation, or the pressure to produce?

Think of Mary and Martha in Luke 10. Martha, though well-meaning, was consumed by tasks that seemed urgent, while Mary chose “the one needful thing”: sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to His words. Mary’s choice wasn’t about impressing anyone or accomplishing something—it was about being fully present with Jesus. This is the heart posture we’re called to have in our personal devotion: sitting, soaking, and growing in relationship with God for the sake of knowing Him, not simply to tick a box or prepare for an assignment.

“Be Still And Know That I Am God…”

Even if you’re scheduled to preach, lead a study, or post an encouraging word, the “why” behind your preparation matters. Are you seeking God because you long to be with Him, or because you need material for others? The difference is significant. You can’t pour from an empty cup—or worse, a cup hastily filled with the wrong intentions. The overflow must come from a heart that is full, rested, and sincerely motivated by intimacy with God, not from striving to meet external demands or perform for approval.

When your motive is rooted in intimacy with God—simply being with Him and receiving from Him—what you share becomes an extension of His work in you. It flows naturally, carrying His grace, timing, and power. But when the “why” is misplaced—when the driving force is pride, obligation, or the desire for recognition—what could have been a pure act of worship risks becoming a transaction. You might deliver profound words that benefit others, but without a heart filled by God, they may lack eternal significance for you.

Jesus said in John 15:5, “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” This truth reminds us that everything of lasting value begins with abiding in Him. When your motivation is first to know God, transformation happens, and from that place, what you share carries true weight. Let your time with Him be about knowing Him, not about producing results. The most impactful “outflows” always stem from a heart motivated by love and fuelled by His presence.

3. The Timing

Once we’ve ensured our devotion is personal, and our motives are pure, timing becomes essential.

God doesn’t always release a word for "immediately". Sometimes He speaks to us about things meant for later, but our excitement can push us to share prematurely. Ever bitten into a half-baked cake? It's not a nice texture-that's for sure... That’s what happens when we run ahead of God’s timing.

For someone like me, whose natural inclination is “build the plane as you fly,” this can be a challenge. I love action and momentum. But there are times when God says, “Slow down. Build the plane properly. Fill it with fuel. Prepare the pilot. And don’t forget the flight plan.” The end result is a journey that’s smooth, safe, and impactful.

When we wait on God’s timing, we allow Him to polish and refine the word He’s given us. As Philippians 1:6 reminds us, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”

Living Outward Without a "Microphone".

Here’s a final question to chew on: Is public sharing the only way to live outwardly with the Word? Or can we live “rivers of living water” lives in non-public ways, keeping God as our focus while honouring His timing?

As I mature in the faith, I'm finding that there are indeed other ways, and I find myself being led to them more and more. For instance:

• Discipleship: Pouring into people privately. One doesn’t need a platform to mentor or encourage a fellow believer.

• Service: Living out the Word through actions—helping someone in need, showing kindness, or supporting a community effort, without feeling the need to broadcast it.

• Prayer: Praying the Word over people and situations. This is an outward expression that doesn’t require an audience.

• Writing: Journaling reflections. Not everything needs to become a blog post or a book—some treasures are for you and God alone.

These acts of obedience flow outward without seeking the limelight. They remind us that God isn’t just looking for public ministers; He’s looking for private worshippers.

In conclusion, balance between personal nourishment and public sharing lies in these three questions:

• Who is my primary audience?

• What is my motive?

• Am I aligned with God’s timing?

When we focus on sitting at the feet of Jesus, seeking Him first, and discerning when (and if) to share, we honour our role as conduits of living water. The rivers flow best when the source is pure, the channel is clear, and the timing is Divine.

Your boy,

Joshua T. Komolafe, xoxo.

Why Principles are Dangerous In Relationship

There are principles embedded in creation—timeless, unchanging, and potent—that yield results regardless of who applies them or the motives behind their application. They function almost like divine laws, indifferent to the heart posture of the one employing them.

In much the same way, it is entirely possible to sow Godly principles without cultivating a heart for intimacy with God or a true desire to know and be known by Him. These principles may produce results, but they do not guarantee relationship.

The highest outcome we can achieve when pursuing Godly actions without truly pursuing God Himself, is, nourishment for the soul.

Yes, long hours in prayer, studying the Word, and worship can soothe the restless mind and strengthen the soul. But this pales in comparison to the profound peace that flows from being in genuine communion with God—being in His presence, delighting in His nearness, and walking in intimate knowledge of Him.

It is a perilous state to live in—a form of godliness that produces temporary results but lacks the substance of relationship. This “results without relationship” approach may initially appear fruitful, but it sets a person on a dangerous path. Sin is never far from those who rely on principles without the Person. In fact, such mindset is the breeding ground for devilish wisdom—a counterfeit “good” that has no connection to God Himself.

If we find ourselves doing all the right things—praying, serving, worshipping—without seeking the Right One, it is time to repent. If our hearts have discovered a loophole where we approach God’s presence as spiritual consumers rather than devoted worshippers, we must repent even more earnestly. This kind of misuse of His presence is nothing short of a spiritual abuse of God’s grace.

Spiritual Consumers

If our hearts have discovered a loophole where we approach God’s presence as spiritual consumers rather than devoted worshippers, we must repent even more earnestly.

I do not want to stand before God one day, proclaiming that I prophesied, performed miracles, and cast out demons in His name, only to hear Him say, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:22-23). What a terrifying reality that would be—to wield His power yet miss His heart.

It is time for us, as God’s people, to realign…

It is possible for a woman to conceive during the right biological window without intimacy—without delighting in the experience or knowing the man who fathered the child. In the same way, we cannot afford to approach God’s principles as a means to an end, using Him for what He gives while withholding our hearts from Him.

God is not blind to our motives. He is not indifferent to the abuse of His gifts. Let us turn back to Him—not for results, but for relationship. Let us seek Him, not because we want His hand, but because we long for His face.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, teach me to navigate the results that materialise from the things of the Spirit. Yet, above all, help me to prioritise being with You before attaining anything.

In any way or area where I may have settled for the outcomes of spiritual exercises without seeking You, search my heart for such hidden wickedness and uproot it completely. Where my heart has unknowingly grown stubborn or hardened, Lord, soften it again and make me tender toward You.

I desire to know You, Lord. I long to always desire to know You–to hunger for Your presence, and pursue You above all else.

While Your presence is indeed filled with joy and eternal pleasures, may I never seek those joys and pleasures apart from You. You are the source; You are the goal.

You are my heart’s deepest desire. My longing is for You—first and foremost. Help me, Lord, to choose You above everything else, especially the by-products of being with You.

You first. You always. You forever.

Amen!

Pain and Pleasure

Learning a beneficial skill can be painful—especially as we navigate the process of doing something we've never done before; applying ourselves in a manner we previously thought impossible.

In the end though, we are usually grateful for the "new heights", and new possibilities that become attainable, as a result of the new skill.

Likewise, pleasure (though good and desirable) in excessive amounts, can weaken one's defence; lead to the unnecessary squander of resources, and establish a platform for long lasting addictions to occur.

Should we therefore, always seek pain, and ignore pleasure?

The answer to that question, is, "Balance and limits".

Life is supposed to be lived to the fullest, but with limits. Sometimes pain is only a harbinger of good things ahead.

Pain is NOT always bad. Pleasure is not ALWAYS good.

Making decisions in Teams

Decisions

When making decisions within a team, It is important to differentiate between:

• Individual preferences (what we want),

• Individual convictions (what we feel is right),

• And the things which each individual classes as “essential” (what we can’t do without).

When every preference (what we want) is classed as an essential (what we can’t do without), it can be hard to reach a satisfactory middle-ground.

To get around this, each stakeholder should be given the opportunity to order the different decision dependent variables, based on their perceived levels of importance…

Order the different decisions to their own “taste”

Then gradually, but patiently, the different lists should be compared and contrasted, until a satisfactory conclusion is reached.

That way, all members will feel valued, no one will feel cheated, and everyone will have contributed in one way, shape or form, on the agreed outcome.

inspired by “New Thinking, New Future” - Dr. Samuel R. Chand

Content Trumps Charisma?

Over the years, I’ve learnt that, whilst gimmicks, analogies, presentation styles and approach (amongst other things) are key to good publicly delivered speeches, nothing - absolutely nothing beats having good content. If your ideas are meaningful, well thought out and liberating, then people will learn to absorb the goodness of it, whilst ignoring and or forgiving your presentation skills or lack of it.

Even though this is aimed at those in need of developing their confidence, it is important to note that, the very best communicators have learnt how to cleverly present their ideas in easily digestible chunks, that were also easy to refer to, to be appropriately implemented in times of need.

From my observation, the biggest hindrance that continues to act as a gulf between life changing thoughts and their public delivery, is the fear of the perceived versus the actual. In the sense that, the perceived fears of how badly a speech might go versus how well people might actually receive it, is big enough to deter the average person from sharing.

As someone who has been privileged to speak for over a decade, I find it important to mention that, this feeling of fear arises for everyone-no matter how good or how experienced, and at the most inconvenient moments too! Despite this, one of the major tools that the best communicators have utilised to combat this, time and time again is, a POSITIVE MINDSET!

Having an initial “Can do…This makes sense…This is good…This will be well received” attitude might sound simple to some, but has proven to be paramount and foundational towards the preparation, delivery and reception of any speech. In other words, if you don’t believe that what you have to say will be well received, why should anyone else?

Because energies and beliefs can be perceived by others, it is important to exude positivity, even within one’s self prior to the delivery of the speech itself.

If you find that coordinating your thoughts in speech like manner is still something you struggle with, be rest assured that all hope is not lost! As long as your content is true, easy to follow and presents basic levels of cohesion, then your ideas will be well received.

Always remember though, that there is a next level. It’s one thing for your ideas to be received, it’s another thing for those same ideas to be portrayed in such a manner that they excite, push an individual to want to make change and remain relevant in the mind of said individual till the time of need.

As I conclude, below are some of the things I believe all communicators (regardless of experience) should always consider when preparing a speech.

• The central thrust/idea to be shared. (So that we don’t stray unnecessarily from this theme as we build a case during the speech).

• The length of time allocated. (It is imperative that we don’t attempt to cram all we know into the little time allocated. No matter how much ones tries, or how much time one has, it will never be possible to say it all. Highlight the most important points, choose the very best highlights and then stick to time!).

• The application of each point listed (as it applies to the lives of the listeners). This is important for the aid of visualisation. “If they can see it, they can do it”. This means including occasional stories, biographies, analogies, diagrams, videos, live demonstrations...anything that helps bring each point to life.

There is a lot more that can be said and or considered, but the fact remains...If you have to deliver publicly by choice or find yourself in a non-negotiable situation either through work or by means of relationship (weddings for example) the best thing to do is to know your stuff thoroughly, practise sufficiently, and deliver confidently.

Sometimes the audience don’t react immediately, but once the truth of one’s content and the passion and enthusiasm of delivery is perceived from the audience, then the people will opt for the change that you advocate for.

Don’t let the fear of your skill level, hold back the quality of your content.

Share. Speak. Deliver!

On the 1st of September, I’ll be sharing some more practical methods which will deal with overcoming fear, nerves and the negative mindset that has hindered many from delivering the best of themselves when speaking.