From Empty to Overflow: Simple, Science-Based Strategies for Those Who Serveಮಾದರಿ

The task was simple: watch a short video of two groups of teens passing a basketball back and forth and count how many times the teens in white shirts passed the ball.

Easy enough. I watched, I counted, and I got it right. Woohoo.

But my feelings of accomplishment lasted only a nanosecond before the researcher asked, “Did you notice the man in the gorilla suit who walked into the middle of the screen, beat his chest, and then slowly walked off?”

What? A gorilla? Beating his chest? There’s no way I missed that.

Except... I had. When I hit replay, this time looking for the gorilla, there he was. Front and center. Not subtle. Not hiding. Just right there, plain as day.

I was so focused on counting passes that I completely missed the astonishing thing happening right in front of me.

And here’s the thing. I do this with God too.

In John 5:17, Jesus says, “My Father is always working, and so am I.”

God is always at work. All day long, all over the world, in every area of our lives. But like missing the gorilla, I can get so caught up in my plans, tasks, and even my efforts to serve others that I fail to see Him.

If you’ve begun practicing the art of pausing, you’re already creating space to notice what’s happening inside of you.

But there’s an invitation to go one step further: to pause and ask God what He’s doing around you, especially in the lives of those you serve.

Like Elijah on the mountain, we discover that God's guidance is rarely loud or dramatic. More often, it comes as a quiet whisper.

When we make room to listen, we begin to notice people we might otherwise overlook and see needs we had been too hurried to recognize.

But here’s the key. Noticing others and interceding for them doesn’t mean neglecting ourselves. True service flows best when we’re rooted in God’s presence, not rushing on empty. So today, we pause for both: to intercede and to be filled.

Grace Break: Notice & Intercede

Take a moment to pause and ask God how He’s working in the life of someone you care about.

• Sit in stillness for 2–3 minutes.
• Ask: “Lord, how are You moving in [person’s name]’s life, and how can I join You in loving them well?”
• Wait quietly. Don’t force anything. Just listen with expectancy.

Grace Break: Receive & Refuel

After interceding for others, it’s just as important to tend to your own soul. We serve best when we’re both prayerful and replenished.

Choose one Grace Break below to help you receive from God, so you can pour out from His overflow.

• Sit quietly with one hand resting on your chest. Gentle touch signals safety to the nervous system and reduces stress. Whisper, “Lord, I receive Your love for me.”
• Take a sip of something warm, and let it remind you of God’s nearness. Warmth can slow heart rate and promote a sense of comfort and connection.
• Breathe deeply, and on the exhale, release anything you’ve been holding too tightly. Deep, slow exhales help activate your body’s calming response.

Prayer
Lord, thank You for working not only in my life but also in the lives of those around me. Teach me to pause and listen for Your whispers, to notice what others need, and to receive what I need from You. Amen.

On our final day, you’ll discover how to serve from overflow and explore more simple Grace Breaks that help you refuel as you go.