Filling the God-shaped Vacuum in our heart

Daily our hearts crave acceptance, approval and acknowledgement. We want to know that we are seen, what we do makes a difference and that we are loved unconditionally. We want people to look at us and praise us for being an awesome wife, mom, grandma, friend and employee.  

But in this world of social media “fame” we are constantly receiving the message that if we don’t look beautiful and completely put together, if we don’t post pictures of our perfect excursion or family moment, if we don’t associate with the “right” people or we haven’t ascended to the coveted position we don’t matter or we haven’t “arrived”.

My friend, can I tell you something? That is complete and total hogwash and couldn’t be further from the truth.

Your identity, my identity does’t lie in who or what the world says we are, but in who God says we are!

In 1 Peter 2:9 Peter writes, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 

Chosen, royal priesthood, holy nation, people belonging to God all refer to our relationship as Christians with God. We are holy and set apart for the Lord’s service but oh too often we lose sight of WHO God says we are. Instead, we focus on acceptance, approval or acknowledgement by the world. 

Blaise Pascal once said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made know through Jesus Christ.”

We have a need that can only be filled by God.

When we take our eyes off of who the world says we are and fix our eyes on Jesus, the author, pioneer, leader and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) we experience the Truth of WHO He says we are in Christ.

Once we allow God to fill the “God-shaped vacuum” in our heart we truly understand and experience Him doing immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine in our lives.

How do we fill the God-shaped vacuum

The best way for God to fill the “God-shaped vacuum” in our heart is to develop a personal relationship with Him. And the best way to do that is to spend time in prayer and studying His Word.

Do you regularly spend time in prayer and in God’s Word? I hope so, but if not, don’t worry it’s not rocket science. It can be as simple as these 5 steps:

1. Gathering your Bible, journal and pen.
2. Saying a short prayer asking God to speak to you through His Word.
3. Reading a short passage and writing it out in your journal.
4. Asking God this question and writing the answer in your journal. What are you revealing to me about yourself in this passage?
5. Writing a short prayer in response to what God reveals to you through your time in His Word.

See how easy that is?! By just spending a few minutes each day in God’s Word you will begin to experience immeasurably more than all you can ask or imagine in your relationship with your Lord and Savior.

This month on The Calm of His Presence we are going to study Ephesians 3:14-21. I hope you’ll join me this month here on the blog and facebook as we unpack God’s Word and Truth for our lives.

In His Calm,