and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God…(2 Chronicles 5:14)
I am notorious for shoving things into a space instead of taking the time to create space for them. This is one of the reasons why my husbands hates it when he opens the refrigerator or sees how I put dishes in the dishwasher. His priorities for creating space for things to be put in their proper place are much different than mine.
If I’m being honest, sometimes I’ll shove a thought into my mind that there’s no space for either but I just want some sort of mental escape from my current reality. Instead of creating space for the good thoughts of God to dwell I’ll shove in thoughts of selfishness, pride and the like. However, the more I have matured in Christ the more I recognize these thoughts much quicker and seek to cast them out to create space for God once again. Sometimes I’m quicker to cast them out than other times.
Because friend, we cannot be a dwelling place for the full presence of God to reside if we have shoved in thoughts of selfishness, pride, unrighteous anger, unfaithfulness, doubt, fear, and anxiety.
Could it be that your relationship with God feels dull and unfruitful because you’ve not made room for the fullness of His presence to dwell within your thoughts? Could it be that you’re struggling in your marriage or family relationships because you told yourself something negative about that person and now you can’t get that thought out of your mind? Therefore, instead of the love of God filling your mind and heart thoughts of anger and resentment reside.
Much of what I taste and see from the Lord is really all about what I let into my mind first. Some of us never get to drink deeply of God’s goodness and provision in our lives because we are too busy feeding thoughts of insecurity, fear, control, pride, etc. If you go about your days angry at the world and those around you, you’re feasting from the wrong table. Friend, you’re shoving in thoughts that aren’t meant to be there, because theirs no room for the fullness of His presence to fill you with joy everlasting.
So go ahead, open up the dishwasher of your thoughts. What have you shoved in their that doesn’t create space for God? Take it out and replace it with something that makes more room for Him.
Lord, I pray that I would drink deeply of your love because I’ve made space for it first in my mind. I pray the story I’m telling myself is one of hope, joy and life that’s only made sweeter in Jesus. I want your presence to fill me in every part, so if something is filling my mind that isn’t making room for more of you than please show me, I pray, in Jesus name, Amen.
Heather Quiroz 