Is Your Heart Preparing Him Room
Here in Washington state, snow tends to bring things to a screeching halt.
I sit here in my nice warm home so grateful that I have the provisions to stay cozy while the winter wonderland invades with its 20 degree temperatures outside. Here in Washington state, snow tends to bring most things to a screeching halt. I live in an area that is especially treacherous to navigate when the roads are snowy and icy; thus it isn’t worth the risk to venture out.
Am I in the same place spiritually I was at the end of 2020?
It gives me extra time to reflect on what 2021 has held for me and ponder on whether I have been intentional about spending time with the Lord over these last 365 days. There are seasons of busyness and distraction and other times of sincere intentionality. The bigger question is am I in the same place spiritually I was at the end of 2020? Are you? The even scarier question is if I continue on the same track will I still be in the same place 365 days from now at the end of 2022? Will you? That is the most terrifying thought to me, to not have spiritually matured AT ALL at the end of another year.
Being intentional doesn't actually relate to time, it relates to decisons.
I have said before that I have no appreciation for New Year’s resolutions, the idea that we can turn the calendar page and are suddenly given the ability to transform our life seems like such a ridiculous notion. Being intentional with your time, spirituality and routine doesn’t actually relate to time, it relates to decision (or indecision as the case may be) about your priorities. What do we prioritize with our time?
Enjoying Christmas music has brought the phrase “Let every heart prepare Him room” from the song Joy to the World to my mind. From the very beginning of Jesus’s earthly life finding “room” for Jesus has been a challenge for the world. On a personal level, are we preparing room in our life for Jesus? There is so much distraction leading us away from Jesus in our world, some good and some mind-numbingly pointless, but all of it is our choice.
1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
I hope that we will reflect on our daily habits and how we use the 1440 minutes God gives us each and every day. I pray we will all search to find ways to spend time intentionally with him. That may look different for each of us. It may look different each and every day. Prayer, devotionals, Bible reading, worship, quiet before the Lord, etc. it doesn’t really matter, but an intentional quiet time with God.
Deuteronomy 6:5
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
What can we do to make sure that we are growing in God this year? One of my biggest fears is that we would get to the end of 2022 and be the same person we are at this very moment. If we are to do what God created each of us individually to do then we must be intentional about spending time getting to know God in greater capacity. We must know God’s heart and word. We should be able to hear him and know that it is him without question (Don’t quote me wrong here, it is always prudent to ask for Biblical input from others if you are unsure.)
Romans 12:1-2
Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
What will you do differently this year to spend more time with God? How will you change your daily habits to allow more time with Jesus? Let us strive to spend time with the Lord in 2022 and look back at the greatest spiritual growth we have ever experienced in any year of our life! That’s the testimony I want to have at the end of 2022!
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is a prayer applicable to all of us today…
Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
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2 thoughts on “Is Your Heart Preparing Him Room”
It is such a blessing to hear that you are encouraged by what God has put on my heart! Praying we all have great spiritual growth in 2022!
Thank you for the new post. Very eye opening as to where I am today and where I can be from this point on. Your newsletters are a constant uplifting read for me. Thank you so much for all your encouraging words. I can always count on you to share a word that gets me back into reading scripture. May the good Father keep blessing you with your ability to encourage.