Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)

In 1719, Pastor Isaac Watts, who wrote over eight hundred hymns, penned the words to the hymn “Joy to the World”, including this phrase, “Let every heart prepare Him room.”

The holidays are filled with making merry in many exciting ways, but I want to make room for time with God, focusing on Him and what the holidays truly represent.

We do not think favorably about the innkeepers who turned Joseph and Mary away after having traveled over ninety miles, with Mary in the last stages of her pregnancy. 

It seems they were cruel and unaccommodating. But in reality, they did not know they were turning away the King of Glory, the Creator of the Universe, the Savior of Mankind, our Redeemer. We, too, can unintentionally crowd out Jesus.

Let’s be careful not to be distracted from the message and meaning of the holidays.  

How can we make room for Jesus during Christmas?

What is Christmas about?

“Oh, holy night, the stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth

Long lay the world in sin and error, pining

Till He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”

Emmanuel – God with us. Christmas is about God coming down to live in this weary world with us.  For us. The long-awaited Messiah emits His first cry.

The Savior is the only hope for a world that, in their busyness and distractions, often forgets to make room for Him. 

So, in the hustle and bustle of the season, in our attempts to festively dress every corner of our house as we enjoy the celebrations, let us pause. To stop. To spend some time in the presence of that baby boy born so long ago for our salvation, for our freedom, for our deliverance, for our healing, peace, and joy.

Ideas for making room:

One lady said that during the Christmas season, she sets her alarm for the same time every day. When that alarm goes off, she spends a few minutes remembering what the season is all about and thanking God for coming down to earth for us. 

Another suggestion is to read a chapter of Luke every day in December until December 25, when the book is completed, and we remember why Jesus came. 

Yet another idea is to read the Christmas story in different translations of the Bible.  

As our calendars fill with holiday parties and activities, let us remember who the real party is for.

Let’s prepare room in our hearts for Him.

this devotion was reprinted from the parents and leaders newsletter, today’s christian girl.