When God fills the empty space

After 40 years of church music, I know countless chorales and worship songs on all kinds of topics and situations, but I can't think of anything about fasting off the top of my head. There are songs about Lent, but the word “fasting” doesn't appear in them. Why is that? In Luke 6:45, it says, “your heart is full and your mouth overflows”. Is Lent not a time of full hearts? Is it perhaps a time of empty hearts?

It was similar to the story of the prophet Elisha and the widow with the jar of oil. She is in a desperate situation and would probably like to press a reset button in view of her debt burden. She has nothing left to eat, just a jar of oil - too little to live, too much to die. And instead of giving her something to eat, the prophet Elisha asks her to borrow empty jars from all her neighbors. He does not specify how many, but only gives her the hint that there should not be too few. How many neighbors might she have asked? Two? Five? The whole village? After borrowing the pots, she closes the door - and starts watering. And the miracle happens: The oil flows. It flows until there is not a single empty vessel left. Then it dries up.

Sometimes our heart feels like a vessel that has become empty. Perhaps due to worries that paralyze us. Perhaps through a disappointment that still hurts. Perhaps due to the noise of the world drowning out God's voice. Fasting can be a conscious emptying. Creating space for God. Letting go of what overfills us but does not fulfill us. And as with the widow, it is our faith that determines how much space we give God. If we leave Him just a small corner, He will fill it. If we give Him our whole heart, He will let it overflow. And if our hearts are full, then the songs of praise and worship will also bubble up.

Next Step: Over the next few days, give up something that fills your thoughts but does not nourish your soul, for example, social media or television. Consciously give God more space in your life and every time you put something in a bottle, jar or can, remember: God fills what you hold out to Him empty. Are you ready?