I want to pair two thoughts together:

“If anyone wants to follow after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

Jesus authored both of these. On the one hand, He told us to empty ourselves of ourselves. But His intention was not to leave us empty. He also said, “Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right-standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!” (AMP).

Remember the second law of physics?

Two objects cannot occupy the same place at the same time. I actually didn’t remember that was physics but I’ve thought about this often– especially in the heart and mind.

When Jesus told His disciples (including us today) to deny themselves, He was essentially telling us to remove the things that are taking up unnecessary space. The beauty of this is that Jesus desires to give us things that are far more valuable in place of temporal things.

Again, I’m speaking of the heart and mind.

I recently put some things on pause and had to ask myself, “Is this taking up space that could be filled with more of God?” The obvious answer was yes.

And that’s when I was reminded of the Beatitudes. “Those who hunger and thirst [for the things of God] will be filled [with the things of God].” But I can’t be filled with other things and expect to have more of God, His Word, His Spirit, or His presence. Two things cannot occupy the same place at the same time.

It’s our decision.

When you crave something, you can’t stop thinking about it until the craving is satisfied. To crave means to long for, hunger for, yearn for, thirst for, dream of, aspire to, set one’s heart on. But notice craving must be satisfied. And that’s what Jesus said: “Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be completely satisfied!” 

In other words, not empty, unfulfilled, or without.

But it’s our decision– what do you crave more? Because as you know, the flesh has a strong desire. And it’s not all evil (the flesh is just strong). For example, it’s not evil to lay around on the couch and watch tv– but how much you do that, and what you watch, can be bad for you. That “space” could be filled with better things.

I want to correlate “hunger and thirst for righteousness” to more of Jesus. John the Baptist said it best: “I must decrease, and He must increase” (John 3:30).

I must move things out so He can move things in.

What intrigues me about this is, what is God wanting to add to my life that I’m not aware of? He has no responsibility to show me until I make the room– which reminds me of James 4:8, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” The Passion Translation says, “Move your heart closer and closer to God, and He will come even closer to you…”

We make the first step to more of Him.

“You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). We are promised to find Him when we make room for more of Him (with all our heart, not just a part).

The Creator of heaven and earth authored physics before man discovered it. This is His law: two things cannot occupy the same place at the same time. May this be a reminder to make room for what matters most.