We want to see the glory of God manifested in our lives, but are we willing to make room for Him? Are we willing to make ourselves available so that He can transform us from the inside out?
Our days are filled with responsibility, and what little time we have left, is spent seeking an escape. Because at the end of the day, we are so stressed, that we don't have the energy or the mental capacity for much else. And I've found that most of us are running on empty. We are moving through life disconnected from our source. And as a result, we've turned to things that only provide a temporary source of fuel, things that often leave us filling empty and less fulfilled in the end.
God is the source.
When we realize who our source is, we can begin to understand why we have little success in trying to be refueled through other means. And recognizing that God is our source, will help us begin to see the importance of making room for Him in our daily lives.
Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” (John 4:10 NLT)
On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.) (John 7:37-39 NLT)
The fuel that we need is found in the One that created us.
The Spirit of God is available to fill us whenever we are drained by life. But more than that, He wants to be active and present in our lives continually. We don’t have to resort to waiting until we are on empty to be filled. The Holy Spirit is able to give us living water that flows out of us. This is a filling so great, that it reaches everyone connected to us. This is what we need. We need Him to bless our lives abundantly, with His presence. But it is up to us, to make ourselves available to Him.
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. (Revelation 3:20 NLT)
This is the posture of our God. He does not force His way into our lives. But, He is always present. He pursues us relentlessly, and then, He waits for us to allow Him in. Even when we are born again, and have a relationship with Him, this is still His posture. We might have said yes to spending eternity in His presence, but have we said yes to allowing Him to lead every area our lives?
Take a moment to reflect on that question. What areas of your life do you need to make room for God in? I promise you that you want Him there.
Where the Spirit of God is, there is freedom.
For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17 NLT)
In what areas do you need to experience the freedom of God? Is it your marriage, your family or other relationships, your past, your health, or your finances? When we invite the Spirit of God into any circumstance, He goes to work on our behalf. He gives supernatural wisdom in the situation. He heals our broken hearts, and He gives us His peace while we wait on Him. These are His promises. These are the benefits that we inherit, as we make room for Him in our lives.
Making room for God means that we must empty ourselves of the world, so that we can be filled with His presence instead.
We are vessels. When we are filled with the opinions and thoughts of this world, we leave no room for the Spirit of God to filling us with His plan and purpose for our lives.
In the book of 2 Kings, there is a story of a woman whom had just lost her husband. In the account, The woman went to the prophet Elisha, explaining that because her husband was gone, she was left without the ability to pay for her family’s debts. She explained to Elisha that, because of her inability to pay, the creditors were threatening to take her sons and slaves. Elisha responded to her by asking what she had in her home. And the widow replied that all she had was a jar of oil.
Elisha told the woman to collect as many empty jars as she could from her neighbors and friends. Then he told her to go home and shut the door behind her. He told her to begin pouring the oil that she did have into the empty jars. And she followed his directions. She began to pour the oil into the jars, and one by one, each empty jar was supernaturally filled with oil. But when she ran out of jars, the oil stopped flowing. Elisha told her to sell the olive oil and use the money to pay her debt.
So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. (2 Kings 4:5-6 NLT)
Because of this woman’s obedience, she was supernaturally provided for. But I want to point out that the level of her provision was directly related to the amount of empty jars that she had the faith to gather. The oil only stopped flowing because she ran out of jars. If she had acquired more jars, she would have been provided with more oil. And this is what we must understand, as we begin to make room for God.
God does the filling, but we must have the faith to bring our empty vessels to Him.
The more we make room for God, the more He will fill us. Taking a break from the world around us isn’t just about retreating from the world. As we retreat from the world, we must also run towards our Father. When we create space between us and the world, we are also creating a space for God to manifest Himself in our lives. We are creating an empty vessel that is available for the Holy Spirit to fill.
So if you are anxious about your health, take a break from focusing on the problem and searching the world for answers, and spend time with God. See what He has to say about your health. Read His word and take in His promises. Declare His promises over your life. And then, worship in His presence and allow the confidence that comes with His peace to sink in.
If you are anxious about your marriage, take a break from the opinions of your family, friends, and pop culture, and seek what God has to say about your marriage. Empty yourself of everything else, so that He can fill you with the faith that you will need to wait on Him.
If you are anxious because your finances aren’t where you need them to be, take a break from focusing on the problem. Take a break from scrolling through social media and feeding your perception of everyone else’s success, and allow the promises of God to renew your mind. God is taking you on a path that is all your own. No one else has been there, and no one else will ever take that path after you. He has a purpose and a plan that He’s designed just for you. But in order for you to see His plan, you must empty yourself of your own.
If you are at the point where you are feeling drained by the pressures of life, take some time away. Make room to see where God is taking you. Get a vision for your life from God.
Where there is no vision, the people perish: But he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (Proverbs 29:18 KJV)
Without a vision from God, we wander around in life without any clear direction. Without His foresight, we move through life on empty, hoping to reach our perception of success. But we are never really fulfilled, because our purpose lies in bringing Him glory.
Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’” (Isaiah 43:7 NLT)
God is the only one that knows His plan. He is the only one that can lead you there.
As we make room for God to fill our lives with His Spirit, He gives us the desires of our hearts, so that our desires align with His. He breathes His plan into our lives, giving us a vision that only comes from the creator. And, He empowers us to walk into His perfect will. This is something that is unavailable apart from Him. But when we make room, He fills us. When we open the door, He comes in. He’ll never leave us empty. He promises to lead us, provide for us, and restore us, when we place our trust in Him.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for pursuing me relentlessly. Thank you for never leaving my side. Today, I choose to turn my face from the distractions in this world, and I choose to make room for you. I pray that you come in and dwell in every area of my life, and I withhold nothing from you. I give you my health, my marriage, my children, my relationships, and my career and finances. I give you my plans; I commit to you my life. I ask that you come in and do what only you can do. Take over, and heal the broken pieces. Help me to move forward in the perfect plan that you have for my life. Your plan is better than anything that I could possible imagine. And I put my complete trust in you, because I know that you will never leave me nor forsake me. I know that you will lead me, and I will follow you. I will wait on you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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