Woman to Woman: Prepare Him Room

“Let every heart prepare Him room.”

The words from the Christmas song echo in my mind. How many times will we hear those words during this Advent season?

Christmas Day, no matter the day of the week upon which it falls, is like a Sabbath Day.

"The Sabbath is still away but the thought of its imminent arrival stirs in the heart a passionate eagerness to be ready and worthy to receive it."

(from “The Sabbath” by Abraham Joshua Heschel, page 65)

The Sabbath is to be dedicated to worshiping God. It is to be a day set apart, different from the other six days of the week. Rabbi Heschel continues:

It is incumbent on every man to be very, very zealous in making the Sabbath day preparations, to be prompt and diligent as a man who has heard that the queen is coming to lodge at his house, or that the bride and her entire entourage are coming to his home. What would such a man do?

(from “The Sabbath” by Abraham Joshua Heschel, page 65)

How do we approach the day? How will we approach this Christmas Day?

As the music is playing softly in the background, again the thought comes, “Let every heart prepare Him room.”

If we are going to receive our King, then we are going to need to prepare Him room – in our hearts, and in our lives. We must eagerly be ready and waiting for Him.

Our God patiently waits for us to come to Him. He is ready and waiting to bless us with His Presence and His Word. It is, in affect, a mutual preparation. He for us and us for Him.

Rabbi Heschel asks the question, “What would a man do?” Yes, I wonder, what would a man do? What would this woman do on this day to be prepared for her Savior?

“A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness;
Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.”
(Isaiah 40:3 NASB)

Clear the way through the debris that exists in our day. Make a straight highway into our hearts and lives.

“Let every heart prepare Him room.”
For as we make the preparations, it happens –
He comes!