Making space for God to fill
These past few days I’ve been mulling over an idea.
But first some backstory.
I’ve been busy. Mostly that’s my own fault. I keep saying ‘yes’ to doing things. That’s not a bad thing. BUT my relationship with God has been shoved to the back burner.
For a few weeks, maybe a month, I’ve kept thinking and telling myself “I need to find time to spend with God. I need to just wake up earlier. I need to read my Bible more.”
Actually this entire last semester of school has been like this more or less.
On Sunday nights I’ll go to youth group and be re-motivated, and freshly feel that connection with God. I’ll be at a spiritual apex and be ready to hit another new week, ready to do hard things for God, ready to THRIVE!
But then Monday comes.
And…. I get busy again.
“I need to get better,” I tell myself.
As you can expect, just telling myself I needed to do better and beating myself up when I don’t — it doesn’t really make an impact (except for making me feel guilty about my lack of motivation).
After a while it became a cycle. It’s one I’ve been through many times in various seasons of life – a cycle of guilt, shame, and condemnation.
I know you can relate to this, right?! But the funny thing about it is that I’m also totally fine at the same time -on the outside, at least.
I’m thriving in school and church and all the other stuff. Just looking at me I’m fine. Great, even.
But on the inside I know that I’m spiritually dry. I’m crying out, “God! Come fill me! I can’t search for you anymore… come and meet me where I am!”
I’m just so stinkin’ tired, spiritually speaking.
(Funny, it was right around the time my article “Searching for Rest in a Nonstop World” was published on TheReb that I started to feel so spiritually tired. The irony. I’m not great at heeding my own advice, apparently.)
And then this Sunday happened. Back to the idea I’ve been pondering. A lady spoke for a few minutes before the service about making space for God in your life – and how when you make space, he will always come and fill it.
“Huh” I was thinking. “This is oddly exactly what I need to hear right now.”
Then I got to thinking. What would it look like in my life to ‘make space’?
I’ve been mulling over it.
Right now I’m making space in two ways:
-I’m cleaning my room. It seems like such a funny, simple thing – but I’ve really felt like God’s telling me to create a sacred space in my room for him. Just clean it up. Make it peaceful. And maybe he’ll come and fill it. We’ll see. I have a sneaking suspicion he will.
-I’m clearing my schedule. Yes, I have lots of summer activities planned. But I also have a lot of down time in the summer. I’m trying to be more purposeful. Take time. Sit in silence. Grab a guitar and just see what happens.
I don’t know. But having some concrete steps to take towards re-connecting to the Vine are helpful for me. I can’t do it all at once. But I can take one step forward.
What are some ways you make space for him? Comment below. I’d love to chat.
Until next time–
Abby
About The Author
Abby
Abby is a teenaged writer who loves using her words for Jesus, to seek and point out beauty in the ordinary. When she isn't writing, you can find her jamming on her guitar, which she fondly calls "Raymond Fender the First", sitting on porches, or reading.
Thank you so much for this, Abby! I’ve missed your posts and this one, as usual, came right when I needed it. Especially in this rushed season of life I need to be more intentional about making space for God.
Thanks, Grace! I’m so glad this encouraged you.
ABBY!!! Fabulous post. This was just what I needed to read.
Last winter, I accepted a challenge to pray for 45 minutes every day for 3 weeks. Don’t journal, don’t read devotions, don’t allow interruptions, just sit there, me and sometimes my Bible. And pray. Out loud.
The experience completely changed my life and the way I viewed God. It brought Him so much closer. Not only was I learning how to talk to Him, I was learning to listen.
But when the challenge ended, my resolution to keep it up crumbled. I’ve been back to my scribble-a-prayer read-a-Bible-chapter devotion life for weeks, and I’m starting to feel dry too.
This post has inspired me to go back to what I did. And let Him carry me.
Oh! Thanks so much, Ella Rose. This is so encouraging. ❤
Abby, this is so encouraging to me. I have been trying to be consistent in my prayer journaling lately and trying to do a devotion but it all just keeps getting put off. This is really inspiring! Thank you! ❤️
❤ Thanks for sharing, Ava Joy!
I found this at just the right time in my life! This was so beautiful and encouraging. Never stop inspiring people!