Empty Room: How to Hear From GodSample

DAY ONE - MAKE SPACE

Life is busy for us all. We live full lives, with little room for what is important. In so many ways it seems as though our culture today idolizes work, leading to a never-ending cycle of hustle. I will be the first one to say that I am guilty of falling into this cycle. But it wasn’t always that way for me, and maybe not for you either. One thing is sure, it was never meant to be that way.

Music for me started innocently in a youth group room at my church on Wednesday nights. This was before I had any idea that people could actually have a career in music. Life was simple back then. At that point the biggest stress that I carried in my life was worrying about my 6th-grade math test that I didn’t study for! That actually was a big worry for me, but that is beside the point. As I think back to those middle school years, I realize they were so formative for my love of music. More importantly, those years formed my passion for Jesus. I found that through the power of music, my soul could connect with Him in a real and genuine way.

As with most of us, life when we were younger was just more simple. In my life, there were already moments built into my schedule where I was intentionally “making space” to be with Jesus. This was modeled to me by a music mentor who was also a youth leader of mine. He reminded me regularly that what happens with me on the worship team can only come out of the time I am spending reading the Bible and praying. Somehow along the way, as the push and pulls of life began to increase, I found it was harder to make space in my life for the important things, like reading my Bible and praying. Then it hit me; making space in my life is not a decision anyone else can do for me. It is something I have to do myself to keep growing in my relationship with Jesus. Now, I have to regularly examine my life for what I can do less of and what I can (and should!) do more.

Maybe you can relate to this same feeling today. Maybe you feel as though you haven’t honestly heard or felt anything from God in a while. It is not too late to start making space.

My challenge for you today is to examine your calendar. I once heard it said, “If you want to know where your priorities truly are, then look at your calendar. Where are you spending the most time, and what are you doing the most of?” What can you change in your schedule right now in the next month to DAILY make space for Jesus again?

Write down the words on a notecard: MAKE SPACE. #emptyroom

Put this notecard somewhere where you will see it daily.

Let’s pray.

“Dear God, I thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. I thank You for chasing after me and wanting to spend time with me. I thank You for your desire to walk in a relationship with me. I repent for not making space for You in my life. And right now at this moment, I draw near to You. Let your will be done. In Jesus' name, Amen.”