Preparing Him Room This Holiday Season

By: Rebekah Hargraves 

Photo Courtesy Of: Dari lli

"Be still, and know that I am God." ~Psalm 4:10a

There’s a message I share every year at Christmas time, but feel compelled to share with you early this year, right here and right now, before the busyness of the season even officially sets in. This message is all about “letting every heart prepare Him room”, which is a line that always stands out to me from the Christmas song, “Joy to the World”. As we quickly approach the holidays, ponder with me:

How will my heart prepare Him room this Advent?

How will I prepare Him room in my calendar and on my to-do list? Room to nudge me in a certain direction to reach out to and serve a certain person? Room to be praised and adored by me instead of forgotten in the busyness?

How will I prepare Him room in the 24 hours I’m given each day? Room to be prayed to, communed with, and to have His Word studied?

How will I prepare Him room in my finances? Room for money to be given out to church, ministries, the homeless man downtown? Or am I squandering it all for myself, my family, and our Christmas gifts?

How will I prepare Him room in my Advent plans? Sure, Advent and Christmas are about Him, so you would think that would be easy. But am I getting my focus wrong? Am I stressing out over all the Advent plans? Or giving more focus to Christmas movies and cookie-baking (nothing inherently wrong with either one - I love both!) that I’m forgetting to teach my kids why we do all this in the first place?

How will I prepare Him room to open my eyes and heart to the people around me when I’m out Christmas shopping? Am I hustling and bustling, or keeping my eyes peeled for the person who might need a listening ear, a smile, a dollar, or the love of a stranger? Am I willing to take the time to extend the love of Christ to others in the midst of my busy errand-running?

This is what I’m pondering in this season. Join me? Mull over these things in your own mind and heart today and answer honestly. Then ask the Lord for help. Preparing Him room will make all the difference this Christmas! And not just for us, but for everyone around us, too.