Making Room for Jesus

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. —Romans 15:13 ESV

December is filled to the brim with family, friends, parties, lists of things we need to do, and an endless stream of Amazon boxes. If we’re not intentional, the bustle can fill our days and consume our minds until our joy is gone. When this happens, we feel hopeless, forgetting to put Christ at the center of Christmas.

I recall a time when this happened to me. One Christmas Eve, just hours before a huge annual gathering at our home, the lights on the tree went out. My husband and I stepped inside to grab some tools. Then it happened — our daughter pulled into the garage and ran over all the lights with our Ford Maverick! Here’s the problem—she and I were due to sing at church for several services before our annual Christmas Eve party that evening. Honestly, at the time, I felt hopeless and defeated.

But what had seemed a tragedy is now a story told with much laughter. These types of events remind us not to take the trivial things too seriously and to center our hope in Christ. In the end, it all worked out. My husband ran to the store to purchase new lights while we served at church. When our guests arrived, they had no idea of the chaos that had ensued before.

About two thousand years before traditional Christmas celebrations, Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem. Back then, the city was buzzing with activity due to the census decreed by Caesar Augustus. While there, the time came for Mary to deliver her firstborn child. But with crowds of people looking for accommodations, there was no place for Mary to give birth. 

When Jesus came into this world, no one in Bethlehem prepared a room for the Savior’s birth. The city was flooded with people vying for a place to stay, and they were consumed with the busyness of preparing for the census. Therefore, the Christ child was born in a place comparable to a modern-day stable where farm animals are housed. The Bible explicitly says that his parents laid him in a manger, a feeding trough for animals (Luke 2:16). Jesus’ birth, compared to our fancy Christmas celebrations, was humble, simple, and without fanfare. This momentous occasion went unnoticed and was not celebrated by most. There was no fuss, no Christmas tree with lights, no neatly wrapped packages. Not a single stocking hung by the chimney with care.

It’s not much different today. Our holiday seasons are often packed with various activities. We find time to shop, plan gatherings for family and friends, and decorate our homes and Christmas trees. However, we frequently fail to make room for Jesus to be the center of our attention.

What can we do to shift our attention back to the Savior?

• Be still and focus. Take a breath, slow down, and ask God to prepare your heart to make room for Jesus.

• Shift your posture. The position of your heart will change the very instant you whisper His name.

If you’re like me, you hold space for what you treasure — relationships, memories, hopes, and dreams. Why? Because they’re important. Yet, they should never replace the space reserved for Jesus.

May you celebrate the true joy and the hope we have in Jesus! He will cover you with His love, fill your heart with peace, and give your soul a place to rest.

Prayer

Dear Jesus ~ We wait with holy expectancy as we approach the day of your birth. Fill us with joy, peace, and hope through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Points to Ponder

As preparations for December get underway, remember to consider Christ’s role in your journey.

• What stands out in your mind as you reflect on past December memories?

• What’s keeping you so busy that you’re distracted from Jesus?

• How will you prepare room for Jesus this Christmas?