Making Room

I don’t know about you, but Christmas always excites me. Each year I would pull all the decorations out getting ready to have my home festive looking. All the color, all the cheer, all the sights of lights and festivity.

Until this year hit home. I felt a deep nudge in my Spirit to not decorate my home all festive like years before. Honestly, I didn’t like that sense of feeling. Am I even hearing this right?
Wow!

As November 2nd rolled around, I gathered all our Christmas things from the attic and began going through our things. Seeing what was okay to use. Everything else, I put away back in the attic, while some of the other decor I felt the need to donate.

I often asked, why Lord, why not decorate my home like I normally do I don’t see anything wrong with it? Until I began reading the Book of Luke for my December reading. Luke 2:7 mentions how Mary had given birth to Jesus-Our Savior, swaddled him in clothing and laid him in a manger because there was no place, no room for them at the inn. That verse jumped out at me like it never had before.

Reading the nativity story over and over I knew about it but until this year, that one simple verse jumped out like a rabbit jumps out of a bunny cage ready to escape. Except the very words weren’t escaping.

They were drawing my attention gently convicting my heart.

There was no room for them in the inn.

Read that once more.

There was no room for them in the inn.

No room for a newborn King, the Savior, the one who came to dwell among us? How? Why? What on earth were they thinking? Oh my heart aches so deeply.. it hurts…..

Stop right there. I felt that deep nudge yet again.

My mind, my home, my heart was being crowded making no room for Jesus much like the people in the inn. Much like this pie being crowded with cranberries, leaving the rest out because there was no room left.

Adding the extra cranberries can make the cranberry pie more bitter or even have it overfilling with the crust not baking correctly.

Having an overcrowded home can have an effect much like having an overcrowded mind and heart, leaving no room for Jesus, unable to celebrate with joy, the true meaning of Christmas.

When I felt that nudge of conviction, I knew why the Lord said to not decorate with all the things I use to before. He was showing me something I was deeply missing. Did it hurt? Yes! It hurt in such a gentle loving heartbreaking way.

But seeing how gentle he was to reveal to me what it was I am missing, I am more grateful now that He showed me because I would’ve missed something remarkable this season.

Although not everyone goes all out with decorations, some are more with presents buying the most expensive gifts yet to give. Some fill their schedules with more tasks and to-do lists unable to settle down, rest, pause and reset. Others struggle with letting go of bitterness, hurt, and other worldly things.

We all have our “thing” that blocks and hinders us from making room for Jesus. This Christmas, I don’t want us to miss what He is showing us sweet friend. I don’t want us to miss making room for Jesus missing out on what He is revealing to us. I don’t want us to miss His sweet mighty presence because we have no room for Him.

You may have heard this story, the famous story of Mary + Martha. Mary, the very one who sat at the feet of Jesus receiving all He had for her. Meanwhile, while Mary was sitting, Martha was very busy cleaning, working, worrying and getting upset at her sister for not helping. You can read more in these few short sentences by turning to Luke 10:38-42.

I don’t want us to miss Jesus in this season sweet friend. I don’t want us to be so busy, with so much going on, going broke because we heard the world saying it is a must to gift out of our funding. Instead I want us to be like Mary, sitting at His feet this season, because friend, He has something wonderful and extraordinary to share with you. 

Here is a little honesty for ya.
When we die, nothing goes with us except the love we have for Jesus. The faith and hope and preparedness we have for Him in our room, our hearts, and in our home while we are living.

What legacy are you leaving? 
How will you prepare room for him today and in this season?

It’s no wonder the Word of the Month in December is ABIDE. Abide in him sweet friend, he is more than willing to do something amazing in your heart, we just have to take that step.

Tips on Preparing Him Room:

1. Pray and ask Him to reveal what it is that is taking up room.
2. Fast. I know that word sounds scary, but don’t let it be. Take A 10 Day Social Media Unplug, Rest & Reset. I mentioned this in our email to the Insiders. I took a 10 day (it actually ended up being more I didnt realize) fast off social media to plug into Him and gosh it was so needed. I want more honestly! And if you feel you can’t do 10 days, begin with 5! As a community, we will do this every month to help refresh our minds hearts and souls and get immersed in the Word, in Him!
3. Remove what He says-be obedient. He is always faithful enough to give more of what you remove what he says.
4. Have an accountability partner if needed. Sometimes we just need a friend to root us on together as we go through this-preparing him room.
5. Set aside time for worship, set aside time for reading the word, set aside time for prayer. Setting aside time for these three is the most amazing thing you can do by inviting him into your home, work place, car, and heart!

Until Next Time,