Many have asked for the motions to “Empty Me” — a circle dance / embodied prayer I lead at retreats and workshops. It is prayed / danced to the song “Empty Me” by Jeremy Camp, a BEaUtiful song about surrendering our selves in order to be filled with his life-giving Spirit. Participants stand (or sit) in a circle facing one another. The motions are simple and repetitive. Participants always remark how powerful this simple movement prayer to music is.

“Empty Me” Embodied Prayer Circle Dance

VERSE:

Holy Fire, burn away “fire hands” (4 count) – flat hands facing one another; fingers move towards and away from each other to imitate flame. Ending at top and pushing out, away and down on “Away” 

All desire for anything fists to gut, then hands open and push down and away 

That is not of you arms raise high overhead to God

And is of me hands come to heart, bowed head

Cause I want more of you arms high and circling (alternating), pulling in towards face (4 count), asking God for more 

And less of me hands push down toward floor as if pushing one’s self down

Instrumental Break

Verse repeats (repeat motions above)

CHORUS:

Empty me right arm up and then down through the right side of body, as if draining the body of self 

Empty me left arm up and then down through the left side of body, as if draining the body of self 

And Fill, won’t you fill me hands in unison circle and pull up at belly, as if splashing water up on self (4 count) asking God to fill us up with Him 

With you, With you arms raise high overhead to God 

Chorus repeats (repeat motions above)

I want more (repeat)… arms high and circling (alternating), pulling in towards face

Thank you Jesus (repeat)… hands together in prayer, can be above head or at heart or wherever the music leads you

Here is the video of “Empty Me” sung by Jeremy Camp:

Here is a printer-friendly pdf version of empty-me for you to use. Use is granted with permission as long as copyright info at bottom remains intact. Be blessed!!

Creative blessings, Jody

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(c) 2017 Jody Thomae

Jody Thomae is the author of God’s Creative Gift—Unleashing the Artist in You, a devotional book with Bible studies to nurture the creative spirit within and to serve as a resource for creative Christians, artists, musicians and worshippers. She has been involved in worship arts ministry since 1997, coordinating artistic involvement in church services and regional worship events through dance, drama, poetry and fine arts. She performs, teaches, choreographs, preaches, coordinates and leads workshops in the area of creativity, spirituality and embodied prayer. She has also recently released a devotional CD, Song of the Beloved. Her passion is for the revelation of God to be made more real through the prophetic use of the arts in church and formational ministry. It is her desire to portray the message of Christ’s desperate and unfailing love for His people to help sustain the hearts of the broken and weary. Life scriptures include Psalm 27; Isaiah 50:4-7; and Zephaniah 3:14-17.