📖 "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine..." — Matthew 7:6 (NKJV)
Matthew 7:6
There comes a moment when the Holy Spirit gently whispers, “Enough.” You’ve poured and poured — your time, energy, and heart — into people who never truly saw the cost of your giving.
📖 "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine..." — Matthew 7:6 (NKJV)
It isn’t bitterness that makes you step back; it’s wisdom. Love is meant to be given freely, yes, but even Jesus withdrew to quiet places to pray. He didn’t spend Himself endlessly where hearts were closed. There is a holy discipline in protecting the oil in your lamp, keeping it ready for those who truly receive it with gratitude and honour.
Focusing on yourself is not selfish. It’s stewardship. When you tend to your own soul, you create room for joy to grow, for hope to be restored, and for the right relationships — the ones that reciprocate with love and grace — to flourish.
If you’ve learned the hard way to stop giving endlessly to the ungrateful, know this: you are not abandoning love. You are making space for it to thrive in healthier soil.
Reflection:
Where in my life am I giving out of obligation rather than genuine love?🤔
How do I feel when my efforts go unrecognised — and what does that reveal about my boundaries?🤔
Which relationships bring life and which ones consistently drain me?🤔
How is the Holy Spirit inviting me to protect my “oil” in this season?🤔
Life Application:
Affirmation:
Creative Prompt:
Create an artwork or journal spread of an oil lamp surrounded by both light and shadow. Let the lamp symbolise your heart and the flame your joy.
In the light area, write or paint the names, colours, or words that represent life-giving relationships and activities.
In the shadow area, depict the things or people you need to step back from in order to protect your peace.
Closing Prayer:
Lord, help me to love like You — with both open hands and wise boundaries. Teach me to give where it bears fruit and to withdraw when You lead me to rest. Restore my joy, renew my strength, and guard my heart from resentment. May I steward well what You have entrusted to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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