Empty of everything else

So my newest epiphany is this: every day a follower of Christ should take a few moments to do what I'll call a heart-flushing. And before you think I've gone schizo, let me clarify.

If we look at the state of our hearts, we might find a lot of clutter. Worry, guilt, shame, fear, materialism, ambition, pride, desire, pain, selfishness, and so on. If we were to write down the contents of our hearts, it would not take long to fill up the notepad. And by necessity of life, our hearts will be filled with these things daily. And I believe God expects us to face them and deal with them. After all, He's not in the business of denial. But if we desire to experience the fullness of the Presence of His Spirit, we must make time to focus on Him without distraction from anything else.

Here's what I read last night. It from The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, a 17th Century Monk from France. Brace yourself:

"I know that for the right practice of [spirituality] the heart must be empty of all other things, because God will possess the heart alone; and as He cannot possess it alone without emptying it of all besides, so neither can He act there, and do in it what He pleases, unless it be left vacant to Him."

So is my heart left vacant to Christ? Am I able, even for a few moments, to flush everything else and let Him claim it? Are you?

Granted, this is no easy task. Life is hard. Sin is tempting. Our enemy is cunning. Stress abounds.

But with God all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)

Jesus said to all of them, "If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing to give up their lives daily to follow me." -Luke 9:23 (NCV)

Some people might try to tell you that being a follower of Christ is easy, that all your problems will be solved if you ask Him to save you, that He will give you whatever you want just because you ask for it.

Don't believe them. Following Christ is expensive. It will cost you everything you have. It will be painful at times, and the trials will not cease until you meet Him in the air. He will ask you for that which you count most dear: your heart. He will want to take it over and reside within you, draw as near to you as your very breath.

And you will love Him even more than you thought possible. He will help you to cleanse your heart of all else save His Presence, and then He will fill you with His love, peace, power, and comfort. You'll chase after Him and ask Him for it.

The most beautiful part of it all? He'll be here waiting for you to do it all over again tomorrow.

Flush.