Making Room for Jesus

by Lori Sentell

As we transition into the last month of this year, we see a season and holiday that is full of commercialism. It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. We decorate, shop, and prepare for dinners, parties, visitors, and many more events. In order for any of these to be a success, there has to be a plan. Without a plan, things can be disastrous and chaotic. We want everything to be as perfect as possible, and we work hard to make sure all of the lists are checked and marked off. In all of our hurriedness, we often forget the most important person…Jesus! Our lives and our hearts become so consumed and filled with stuff instead of being filled with Him.

We need to prepare our hearts and put Him first on our Christmas list. We need to make room for Him in our hearts just like we prepare a special place for a guest that is coming to our house. Our guest would have clean sheets, towels, and anything else that would make them comfortable. We would not tell our guest when they came to our door, “I have no room for you,” “My house is a wreck, you can’t come in,” or “Come back when I have time for you to be here.” We would never do this…yet we make no room in our hearts for our Savior. We push Him aside for other things that seem more important at the time. By doing this, we are distancing ourselves from the very source of our help and strength.

We need to open wide the door of our hearts and welcome Him to come in! Let Him fill you with His love, peace, kindness, and joy as only He can. Putting Christ 22 // December 2021

first in our hearts will make us a better wife, a better daughter, a better sister, and a better friend to those around us. It is promised in His Word, that if we will look unto Him and welcome Him, He will come in. He will be everything we need to make it through!

The Bible tells us in Psalms 24:7-9: “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of

Glory? The Lord strong and mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.”

This is a must in order to have a close relationship with our Heavenly Father. A familiar line in the Christmas carol, “Joy to The World,” also reminds us: “Let every heart prepare Him room.” Prepare your heart this Christmas season and let Him in and see what He will do in your life.

About The Author Lori Sentell is the pastor’s wife of Cornerstone Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee, and she is a teacher at Hopewell Elementary School.