In the stillness that follows our prayer of surrender, a deeper invocation emerges from the depths of our transformed hearts: “Empty me, O Lord.” It’s a prayer that resonates with the soul’s longing to be free from the constraints of self that hinder our communion with God. As we continue our journey in the “Emptied” series, we venture into the heart of our spiritual transformation—the divine process of being emptied.
The Apostle Paul speaks to this in his letter to the Philippians, highlighting Christ’s ultimate example of self-emptying: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7). Christ’s kenosis, His emptying of Himself, becomes the model for our journey, calling us to relinquish not just our sins and failures but our very selves.
This call to be emptied is not a call to passivity or a denial of our worth. Rather, it’s an invitation to a profound freedom that comes from letting go of our ego, our desires, and our plans, to be fully available to God’s will. It’s a liberation from the bondage of self that allows God’s spirit to flow through us more freely, transforming us and using us for His purposes.
As someone walking this path, I’ve found that the process of being emptied is both painful and beautiful. It requires a daily, sometimes moment-by-moment, willingness to surrender my will, my rights, and my control. It’s in this process that I’ve encountered God in deeper ways, experiencing His strength in my weakness and His guidance in my uncertainty.
The journey of emptying is not about becoming less of who we are but about becoming more of who we are meant to be in God. It’s about removing the barriers that separate us from Him so that His life can be fully manifested in us. As we become emptied of self, we become vessels for His use, channels of His love and grace to the world around us.
“Empty me, O Lord,” becomes a prayer not just for our own transformation but for the sake of others. It’s a prayer that prepares us to be filled with the fullness of God, that we might overflow with His love, joy, and peace. “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). In our emptying, we discover the paradox of the Christian life—that in giving up our life, we find it, and in being emptied, we are filled.
As we reflect on the meaning of true spiritual emptying, may we be encouraged by the promise that God fills what He empties. He does not leave us void but fills us with His presence, power, and purpose.
Prayer
Let us continue to pray with open hearts, “Lord, empty me of myself, that I may be filled with You. Lead me in the way of Christ, that in losing my life for His sake, I may find it in You.”
Reflection Question for “Empty Me”
“How can I identify and actively let go of aspects of my life that are filled with self, to make room for God’s presence and purpose?”
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