December 22

My tongue will indeed proclaim Your righteousness all day long, for those who seek my harm are disgraced and confounded. — Ps 71:24 BSB

It is a simple law of nature that air always rushes in to fill a vacuum. You can create a draft by heating the air until it rises, causing cold air to rush in to replace it. In the same way, we can always be filled with the Holy Spirit by making room for Him. This breath is dependent on emptying the previous breath before inhaling a fresh one. Similarly, we must empty our hearts of the last breath of the Holy Spirit we've received, for it becomes spent as soon as we have used it, and we need a fresh supply to prevent spiritual suffocation.

We must learn the secret of breathing out, as well as breathing in. The process of breathing in will continue naturally if we are diligent about breathing out. One of the best ways to make space for the Holy Spirit is to recognize the needs in our lives as vacuums for Him to fill, and we will find plenty of needs around us. As we pour out our lives in service, He will pour His Spirit in abundance into us.

Jesus, empty me and fill me
With Your fullness to the brim.