Blessings, Christmas, Discipline, Encouragement, Guidance, Obedience, Our Identity, Planning, Prayer, Priorities, Relationship to Christ, Repentance, Salvation, Sin

Making Room for Jesus in Your Life

As we’ve just been through the Christmas Season, our thoughts have been turned to the birth of Jesus, the real reason for Christmas. As we recall the Christmas story, we remember that because of the call for everyone to go to their city of birth to register for a census so that the government could know how much to tax the people, there wasn’t an open room anywhere for anyone. As Joseph and Mary searched for a hotel room or somewhere for her to give birth, the only place available was a stable, a dirty place where animals were kept and fed. “She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” (Luke 2:7 NLT) We could focus on the significance of things like the swaddling cloths, or the fact that Jesus is the King of Kings, yet he was born in such a lowly place, or that He was laid in a feeding trough, but I want to focus on the fact that there was no room for Him to be born.

As I was doing my Bible Journaling for this page, I was reminded of a song I used to sing in a Christmas Cantata when I was a teenager or young adult at our church. The song is, “Have you any Room for Jesus?” It focuses on us now. Do we have room for Jesus in our lives? The lyrics of the song say, “Have you any room for Jesus, He Who bore your load of sin? As He knocks and asks admission, sinner, will you let Him in? Room for Jesus, King of glory, Hasten now His word obey. Swing your heart’s door widely open, bid Him enter while you may.” It’s a song of invitation to unbelievers to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Jesus wants a relationship with His creation, but He will not barge into our lives. He only comes at our invitation.

But, once we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, do we make room for Him in our lives as we walk this Christian life before us? Do we take time to spend in His Word, in talking to Him in prayer, in going to church to learn more about Him, and getting our Spiritual tank filled? Or is life so busy that we barely have time just to say thank you for the food we eat at meals? I know, for me, this is an area I know I need improvement in. I let life get in the way, or I just sit and allow myself to be distracted by TV, the computer, or something else that seems more interesting. It is then that I need to stop, ask for forgiveness, and start again, getting back into His Word, taking time out to pray, not just for my needs or the needs of my family and friends, but to talk to Him, getting to know His character, and to learn to hear His voice when He speaks to me.  

The Psalmist urges us, “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!” (Psalm 119:1-5 ESV) The only way we can follow this instruction is if we intentionally set aside time in our day to seek His ways in our lives. Spending time in God’s Word can be as simple as doing a five-minute devotional every day or as involved as doing an in-depth study on a word or topic. The point is to spend time, however much we have in our schedule, to read the Bible and be open to what God wants to teach us. 

We also need to communicate with God daily. I try to keep a running dialogue with Him throughout the day, but then right before bedtime, I come to Him with things that are heavy on my heart. Keeping the lines of communication open helps us to know what God wants for us and helps us hear His voice when He is speaking to us. His Word tells us, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8 NASB1995) As we seek to have a close relationship with Jesus, He WILL come closer to us so that we can get to know Him and know how much He loves us and wants to work in our lives.  So let’s make room for Jesus in all we say and do.

Unknown's avatar

Published by

Donna Knuth Rice

I am trying a blog for the first time in my life, and frankly, I feel like I don't have a clue as to what I'm doing! But, here goes. I work at a Christian Television network in the Correspondence Department, where I write letters and emails to our viewers, pray with them for their needs, and send materials they request. I am a Christian. I was saved at the age of 11 during a youth meeting at my church. My pastor led me to the Lord, and to say the least, my life has been an adventure. I am a widow. My late husband, Allen, passed away after 34 1/2 years of marriage. He had been sick the last seven years of his life, and it was a struggle, for him and for me. We met as part of a singing group that was affiliated with a Christian Radio station, and we sang together all through our lives together. We both worked in television and radio all through our married life, mostly for Christian stations. Besides singing I also play flute. I had the luxury of having parents who started out as music teachers...so music was in our house constantly. Some people describe me as being a loud-mouthed lime type...can't disagree with that. I have a tendency to put my foot in my mouth more times than I can count! I also have a tendency to say exactly what's on my mind...which is why I get myself in so much trouble! LOL! Trust me, that's something me and God have been working on for a very long time. I have no children here on earth, although I have a baby in heaven. My baby here is my dog Jack. He's a black lab/ chow mix. He's a big boy....thinks he's a lap dog! Can't think of much else to say. The reason I started this blog is because a few months ago in church, a guest pastor came and delivered a message, and when he asked for those of us who wanted prayer to come forward, I did. When he came to me he asked me if I did any journaling. I told him no 'cause I wasn't very good at it. He told me to start, and prophesied over me that my journal thoughts would impact other people. I wasn't sure just how I was to go about doing this. In fact, I was a little hesitant at first. I started journaling at home, and our assistant pastor's wife asked me to submit something for our Senior newsletter. I didn't the first edition, but something I had heard on Christian radio a long time ago and has stuck with me all these years, came to mind so I submitted an article. That article will be my first post. I don't claim to have all the answers, and my thoughts may seem a little "out there", but I feel God has been prodding me to do this, and so here I am. I hope what I post will bring encouragement, and "Something to Think About".

Leave a comment