Let every heart, prepare Him room.
I wonder how many times these words have been sung? How many times have they been written about? And yet I wonder…..
Have I truly prepared Him room?
As of today, Christmas is two days away. I have had almost an entire month and I am still not ready. I have a stocking yet to stuff. I need a few items from the supermarket. My house needs some cleaning. And baking … yes, I still have baking to complete.
So truth be known …. I am not done with the preparations.
To prepare, according to dictionary.com is “to put in proper condition or readiness; to get ready by proper assembling”.
My thoughts turn to a voice “… shouting in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!” (Matthew 3:3, NLT). Preparation, in this instance, was to clear the way. All month, I have been trying to clear the way by setting time aside each day to think about Christmas and Christmas carols and familiar words.
Preparation takes time and effort and energy. Preparation takes sacrifice.
And yet, in a fresh and simple way …. I have never felt more ready, more prepared. I sit this morning in wonder and marvel.
Zechariah was told about the birth of his son, John the Baptist, by an angel. The angel said, “And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17, NIV).
I sat this morning, with tears streaming, as I read those words.
How had I ever missed them? We cannot prepare ourselves by ourselves.
He comes alongside of us and enables us to prepare our hearts. Even that is all by His doing. He makes us ready, prepared, for the Lord. For the day of His coming.
All these days of listening to Christmas music. When I was reading Scriptures telling me the story of His birth. When I pulled out old devotional books. All of it – the entire time –
He Himself was preparing me to prepare for Him.
Seeing as He does all things well, my heart can rest assured, I have been prepared. And I will sing, prepared …
Joy to the World, the Lord has come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qXkIjoWYDw&w=420&h=315]
I am joining with ….. Hear It, Use It and Sharing His Beauty and Inspire Me Mon. and Making Your Home Sing and Living Proverbs 31 and Mom’s Mon. Mingle and Mon. Musings and The Modest Mom and Mommy Mon. .
Joanne, number 8 first! LOL!!!
Gypsy, It was a list I found on the internet. Made me realize how alike we all are. And yes, may we enjoy!!! Merry Christmas, my friend!
Love,
Joanne
Loved the list. One of my favorite verses matches your thoughts. Galatians 4:4 says “When the full of time had come, God sent forth His Son…” Preparations is all about God’s timing.
So sorry…it makes more sense when it’s written correctly…”When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son…”
Yes! So grateful He comes in the fullness of time for it is always the right time! Thank you for stopping here. May you & yours have a most blessed Christmas Day!
I loved your list too. Coming by with God’s great timing as I was sitting here stressing over not feeling prepared for Christmas. It’s been a rough couple days. I need to really believe this… “Seeing as He does all things well, my heart can rest assured, I have been prepared.” Maybe for me it isn’t all about being prepared but being equipped to get through. I’m not feeling very equipped. Praying for His strength.
Merry Christmas sweet friend. Love you.
Good Morning Beth –
Loved seeing the photos of your sons! So glad that they are with you. In reading your comment, I had to pause & pray for you & for Scott. I cannot help but wonder if perhaps it is not that you are prepared or equipped. Perhaps this year, you are enabled — enabled by His Spirit to be strong, to experience His joy & to get through. After all, He is come. He is with you. Emmanuel – God with us!
May you & yours have a blessed Christmas Day today!
Love & Hugs,
Joanne
Every year Christmas comes faster and faster and I think I get slower and slower. I love the season but I have to say that I’m always glad to get back in the routine again. I am so glad that Jesus prepared my heart to receive Him. The greatest gift of all!
Blessings, Diane
It is so true! As much as we enjoy the Christmas season, there is something comforting to be found when we return to our routines. May you & yours have a most blessed Christmas!
This is so true. I must admit this year I became so overwhelmed with trying to bes ure that everything and everyone was happy and taken care of that preparing room for the one who made the Holiday possible almost fell to the background. Thank you for such an insightful post…
It truly can be so easy to get caught up in what needs to be done. I had to be determined to keep my focus each day this month. Now praying that I can carry it into the new year 🙂 May you & yours have a Happy New Year!!!!