The Heart of Christmas

One of the key battles at Christmas is making room in your heart for Jesus.

“So Joseph also went up from the town of NAzareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”
Luke 2:4-7 (NIV)

One of the funniest scenes from the Marx Brothers was the iconic stateroom scene from Night at the Opera. The Marx brothers are packed into a tiny stateroom on a ship with their large luggage. The situation gets worse when one after the other, more people pile into the room–a manicurist, a plumber, a maid, a guest wanting to use their telephone, and even four waiters delivering room service. The room is so full, everyone can barely move. At the end of the scene, somefor from the outside opens the door, and the entire roomful of people spill out into the floor.  

This movie scene is a picture of what can happen when we let our hearts get cluttered with the things of this world. There are so many things that clamor for our attention–shopping for presents, getting ready to host guests, decorating, baking–that like the innkeeper in the Christmas story who had no room for Joseph and Mary, we have no room for the Christ Child.  

But this is not just a problem at Christmas time. All year long we let other things crowd out our relationship with Jesus–distraction of tech devices, sin, busyness, distraction, and worries. There is a great line from the Christmas carol “Joy to the World” that states, “Let every heart prepare Him room.”  

Have you prepared room in your heart for Jesus this season?  

This morning was very foggy as I drove into the church. I love fog. It could be because that fog closes you off from the world, in a certain sense. Everything beyond a certain distance disappears, giving the illusion that your world is a bit more manageable, as the noises of the world are quieted.  

Spiritually, I like the fog effect to help me prepare room for the Savior. I have to be intentional, not dependent on fog, but dependent on the Lord to help me be intentional and focus on Him.  

Augustine, years ago, prayed a prayer that I love, and that I have paraphrased: “Narrow is the mansion of my soul. Lord, enlarge it that You might enter in.”

Here is a prayer that might help make room: “Lord, forgive me for allowing the clutter of my life to crowd You out. Help me to empty my heart of the distractions, sin, busyness, and anything else that prevents me from being wholeheartedly Yours, so that my heart might be full of You.”