I am like no other.

The amazing thing about me is that I have characteristics and traits that not another person in this world has. There might be similarities to other people but all in all I am a unique creation. If you think this applies only to me, think again! You too are an absolute one of a kind, gloriously unique, multi -faceted, creatively crafted masterpiece of a passionate and very artistic God! We have each been designed to reflect glimpses of Him.

While we have all the unique physical characteristics, DNA and a pretty much standard set of organs, limbs and blood vessels, there is one thing in each of us that is exactly the same throughout all humankind.

The void or empty space that cannot be seen on any kind of medical diagnostic imaging system is the same in each of our souls-created solely for the fulfilling of God’s Spirit.

A soul in turmoil is always a soul that is either empty or filled with something that does not fit.

We all have it and we all sense it when it’s empty and when it’s full. There are so many ways to fill it but only one thing will fit perfectly. I’ve see people wear themselves out trying to fill the void with so many different things- material goods, exercise, “spiritual” stuff, competition, striving for perfection, relationships, substance addictions, social media….the list is endless! Sadly the strain and effort is all for nothing. That space was designed to be filled only with that which connects us to God-His Holy Spirit in us.

If you’ve ever tried building a puzzle you will know all about trying in frustration to find the piece you’re looking for amidst hundreds that look the same but are not an exact fit! Each puzzle piece can only fit one particular place in your puzzle. Its either the right piece or its not-theres no in-between!

Its the same with wearing a pair of shoes that don’t fit. If they are too big my foot will be constantly clenched to keep the shoe on and if they are too small I will be walking with a limp because my toes are squashed. We cannot fill the space in our souls with ill fitting fillers! Badly fitting garments are as uncomfortable as badly fitting stuffing in the God-shaped voids of our souls.

This void is evidence of a God who created us for relationship with Himself. The Bible tells us that He is a jealous God- not in the needy and envious way- He will not share His space in our lives with anything or anybody else.

We stuff, we push, we agonise and we fret. We fantasise,we imagine, we strive and then we start again and do the same things over and over again getting the same result each and every time. Ah, but the mind-blowing peace that we experience when the penny drops that we have been looking in all the wrong places and placing our hopes in all the wrong things! When we finally succumb to the Holy Spirit and allow that river of peace to flow into every nook and cranny of that soul void, filling it as it was always meant to be filled- that’s when all those pieces of us that have been broken come together to form a beautiful picture of restoration and wholeness.

As the MasterCard advertisement says, ” That is priceless”!

Mark 8:36 NLT

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?

Psalms 103:1-5 NIV

Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Jeremiah 31:25 NKJV

For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.”

Matthew 22:37 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’