The Open Heart of the Kingdom
An empty space filled with light, ready for the presence of the King.
Devotional Source: eManna
Photo Credit: Unsplash
The invitation to receive the kingdom of heaven does not begin with spiritual superiority. It begins with emptiness. When Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” He was not celebrating poverty for its own sake. He was calling us to an inner emptiness that makes room for the King and His kingdom to fill us.
In today’s devotional, Witness Lee reflects on how he once walked with a mind full of religious and philosophical clutter. Even after turning toward the Lord, he still had much to unload. Our spirit may be turned in the right direction, yet still crammed with concepts, opinions, or religious baggage. In this condition, there is little room for Christ to dwell richly within.
To be poor in spirit is to cast out every competing thought and yield the deepest part of ourselves to the reign of Christ. This is not merely an intellectual change but a spiritual posture of surrender. It is an inner opening that says, “Come in, Lord Jesus. This place belongs to You.”
When we empty ourselves of what does not belong, the King takes residence within. This is not symbolic language. It is reality. The King brings the kingdom wherever He rules. The moment we yield the spirit, we experience the presence, the peace, and the authority of heaven breaking in.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I am near to the one whose spirit is open, whose thoughts are not tangled in pride or performance. When you surrender your right to understand everything and release your grip on religious patterns and human ideas, you make space for My kingdom to flourish within you.
I have not asked you to be rich in knowledge or crowded with effort. I have asked you to be open, soft, empty of pride, and willing to receive. My Son said that the kingdom belongs to the poor in spirit. This is not a loss. It is the greatest gain. The emptied spirit becomes My throne room.
I dwell in you already, but there are still places I long to fill with the peace and joy of My reign. I search the inward parts. I look for the yielded places. Let Me govern there. Let Me bring My kingdom not just to your mind, but to your innermost being. As you trust Me, I fill you. As you rest in Me, I reign through you.
You do not need to strive to enter the kingdom. You simply need to make room for it. Open your spirit. Cast out every idea that clutters. Make your soul My sanctuary. The King is at hand. Let Him take His rightful place.
Scripture References: Matthew 5:3, 2 Timothy 4:22, Psalm 51:17, Isaiah 57:15, Luke 17:21, Colossians 1:27, 2 Corinthians 4:6-7, Romans 14:17, Philippians 2:13, John 14:23, Ephesians 3:16-17
Real-Life Analogy
It is like clearing off your kitchen counter before preparing a meal. If the space is full of unopened mail, keys, wrappers, and yesterday’s dishes, there’s nowhere to lay out what’s needed for the feast. But when you wipe the surface clean and make room, something nourishing can finally be prepared there.
Likewise, when your inner being is crowded with ideas, expectations, and old beliefs, there’s no room to experience the fullness of the Lord’s reign. But when you quietly turn to Him and say, “I release every thought that does not belong to You,” your spirit becomes a ready place for His peace to settle and His joy to overflow.
Perhaps today, when you pause before a conversation or task, you might say within, “Lord, I yield the space of my spirit to You. Fill me here and now.” That moment of trust will invite the kingdom of heaven to manifest in everyday life.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, thank You for making room for me in Your kingdom by making room in me for Your kingdom. I don’t need to chase after it. You have already brought it near in Christ. I rest in the truth that Your Spirit dwells in me and that I lack nothing.
Thank You for clearing away the clutter of old thoughts, false beliefs, and anxious striving. I trust You to reign freely in me today. Wherever You rule, peace and joy abound. Let that be true in every corner of my life, not because I begged for it, but because You are faithful and generous to those who trust You. Amen.