ODJ: Empty Spaces

July 18, 2016 

READ: Ephesians 5:15-20  

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit (v.18).

I’m convinced that the Holy Spirit is attracted to empty spaces. Let me explain...

We see Him first, in the book of Genesis, hovering over the formless, empty world (Genesis 1:2). He filled the empty tabernacle with His presence (Exodus 40:34-35; 2 Chronicles 5:11-14). He filled Jesus, who emptied Himself of privilege (Matthew 3:13-16; Philippians 2:5-8). He filled the disciples at Pentecost, empty of pride after getting their view of Jesus so wrong (Acts 2:1-4). We’re to bring our thirsty souls to the Spirit so He can quench them (John 7:37-39). We’re to offer our empty bodies as His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). We’re not to fill our hearts with wine but to fill them with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). The Spirit just loves to fill a vacuum!

If this is true, then it follows that there’s such a thing as holy emptiness—an emptiness reserved for Him. Sadly, however, my heart is often so full of things that there’s little space left for the Holy Spirit.

Wine isn’t the only thing vying with the Spirit for our emptiness. Pride, greed, bitterness and lust all compete to fill that space. Our worries, anxieties, dreams and plans can consume us, while entertainment, magazines and social media chatter can fill us with empty noise.

Is there space in our hearts for the Holy Spirit? Will we seek to be filled with and yield to His leading?

The good news is that we can.

Confession clears away sin and makes space for the Spirit, and forgiveness removes the blockage of bitterness (Colossians 3:13; 1 John 1:9). Worship empties our hearts of ourselves, and prayer makes space for His voice (Psalm 63:1-4; John 10:27-28).

May we submit to the Holy Spirit today, praying that He’ll pour into our empty spaces.

—Sheridan Voysey

365-day plan: John 6:22-40