Prepare Him Room
What does that even mean?
Back in October, I told myself I would commit to the habit of writing a post every week. As the Christmas season descended upon us, I thought to myself, “There will be plenty to write about, plenty I need to reflect on, plenty to remind myself and my family, so much beauty, so many metaphors and gospel glimpses” and yet this week I have been indubitably stuck.
Maybe because there is so much that I'm suffering from paralysis by analysis. Maybe the fact that so many others have said it all before. Maybe because I know I cannot capture the magic or communicate the wonder of the season like I want.
Or maybe I just haven’t made room.
The phrase “Let every heart prepare Him room” from “Joy to the World” has been on repeat in my mind from the moment we set up the Christmas tree this year. And then Sovereign Grace’s song by the same name came on; the chorus singing the same message to me over and over again. The soulful plea of the vocalist has continued to call out to me all season:
As we moved the furniture to make room for the tree - “Prepare Him room.”
As we took our normal decor down and “decked the halls” with the festive stuff - “Prepare Him room.”
As we rearrange the calendar to pencil in parties and activities - “Prepare Him room.”
As we make room in the budget to buy gifts and host - “Prepare Him room.”
As I rearrange my priorities to bake and make with my kids - “Prepare Him room.”
As we change our regular after church plans to make time for the kids’ nativity play practice every Sunday - “ Prepare Him room.”
As I change my own routine to make time to practice piano for the Christmas Eve Service - “Prepare Him room.”
And as the Spirit has recalled that chorus to my mind over and over and over again, I keep asking myself, but what does that even mean? Silly as that sounds because written out - I can see it now. All the things I’ve been making room for are beautiful and good and worth it, that’s why I’ve taken the time to make them fit in my very busy, very crowded life. And yet I’m so quick to miss the point. All the preparing and rearranging and shifting - all for a season that literally sings out Who I am to be preparing for. Preparing room in this beautiful, busy, noisy season to listen with ears anew and heart open wide for:
A story I’ve heard a thousand times.
And that is precisely why I must prepare. Because my familiarity with the story threatens to drown out the wonder of its message.
So I think part of what the Spirit is teaching me is just as I am willing to rearrange the furniture and strip the walls to deck the halls and make room in my calendar and routines for “all the things”…
There is much more joy to be had if I prepare room in my own mind, spirit and heart to dwell on:
His work at the beginning, speaking worlds into existence - “Prepare Him room.”
His faithful presence over thousands of years, despite the people’s rebellion - “Prepare Him room.”
His love for a broken world, and a redemptive plan in motion from the start - “Prepare Him room.”
His willingness to leave His throne and put off His own glory- “Prepare Him room.”
His humble birth and his humble life when He could have had a life of power and ease - “Prepare Him room.”
His humanity on display as got hungry and slept and wept at the suffering of others - “Prepare Him room.”
His compassion on the crowds and the way He touched lepers and dined with outcasts- “Prepare Him room.”
His willingness to lay down his life for a world of sinners, even “counting it all joy” - “Prepare Him room.”
His empty tomb because even death was conquered that day He arose- “Prepare Him room.”
His redeeming and restorative hands that are still at work even now - “Prepare Him room.”
His call on my life to follow Him, inadequate as I am, busy as I am, forgetful as I am - “Prepare Him room.”
The Promise Keeper. The Prince who left His throne. The Word made flesh. The One who called me His own.
There is not enough room in my heart to hold Him and so:
It overflows.
“Joy to the world!” rings through my thoughts, my choices, my actions, my work, my…
words.
If I just prepare Him room.
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
(Philippians 2:6-8)
"Far as the curse is found," prepare him room! If you feel the weight of the world, this post is for you!
Thank you for sharing this Amanda! I love how you said the familiarity of the message threatens to drown the wonder of the message of the Advent season. It’s so true. Oh how it makes us need it all the more ❤️