Yesterday, my church started our annual time of fasting and prayer. We take time in January to start the year with a special time of corporate fasting that will have lasting effects throughout the year. Plus, fasting is always more “fun” with a buddy, or a whole church full of them!

Fasting from food or other items or activities that we are accustomed to leaves a void in our lives, an empty space, that invites God in to fill it. In this way, we may become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His power is released to move in our lives. When we are full of our own pursuits and material things, there is no room for the things of God. We become obese with our own riches. We prize comfort and satiation above all else. We avoid pain, even the pain that accompanies growth. We forfeit many good blessings, even the life we truly desire because we fill ourselves to the brim and leave no room for God’s life to flow in and through us.

Henri Nouwen, in The Way of the Heart, says in the silence, we create space for speaking. However, if our speech does not come out of silence, then it is simply noise. My life is filled with a lot of noise. I must get silent, feel empty, clear out the superfluous – and then clear out some more!

The rumbles in my belly that are usually quieted with food remind me that it is God I am hungry for. The time in my day that is usually filled with other activities remind me that Jesus is my go-to guy. These empty spaces invite God in to fill me up.

God, please remove everything that hinders me. I want my life to speak from the silence. I want Your life to flow into all the empty spaces. And I want a lot of empty spaces so there is plenty of room for Your life in me.