This Christmas can change everything…

I was reading my 4 year old a children’s book about the Christmas story and I found myself in tears. I had read the Christmas story so many times, but this time, something different stood out and it was tugging right at my heart. 

Mary is soooo pregnant, and they are trying to find a place to stay for the night. So they go from place to place, and from inn to inn trying to find a place to birth this baby. This baby who happens to be the Savior of the world. This baby who happens to be God in human flesh. And there’s no room. No one was making room for Jesus. 

This particular children’s story, repeated several times, how many people turned this family away, instead of inviting them in, and making room for the Son of God. But they were too full. They were at capacity. There was no room. 

I think the reason this brought me to tears is because I find myself filling my schedule too full. Filling this season to capacity. And here is my Savior, knocking at my door, asking to come in. Jesus Christ is knocking asking for me to invite Him in and make Him the guest of honor. He is asking to be the center of my Christmas, and of my schedule, and of my home, and of my time.  Instead, many times I respond with, “I am too full.” “My schedule is too busy.” “I have too much going on.” And I am running around like a dog chasing its tail, when the God of the Universe is knocking at my heart asking me to let Him in. That visual grieves me and makes me realize how I create chaos when He can bring me peace. I create stress, when He is gentle. I create anxiety and fear, when He is love. 

I believe this is FOR ME AND FOR YOU. 

I believe that we all have a whole in our heart and we try and try to fill it with anything and everything. We try to fill it with busyness, or with shopping, or with food, or with alcohol, or with work, or with working out, or with a relationship, or with a friendship, or with our children, or with fill in the blank. But none of it will work. Jesus is the only one who can fill that gap. I believe that Jesus is the piece that is missing from our heart. And this Christmas, he’s knocking, and he’s asking for an invitation in our hearts and lives. 

I believe Jesus is knocking at your heart right now. He’s asking to come in. Will you make room for Him? Will you invite Him in? He will never force Himself in. He gives us free will to choose. But He’s here and He’s knocking, and He’s asking to be invited in. When you let Him in, and if you truly let Him in, your life will never be the same. 

Pray with me. 

“Heavenly Father, Forgive me for being so busy. Forgive me for being so self-consumed. Forgive me for not making room for you in my life and in my heart. Forgive me for being so self-sufficient. Jesus, today, I invite you in. I invite you into my heart, and into my life. Jesus, this Christmas, I am surrendering my life to you, and making you the Lord of my heart. I need you. I love you. I adore you. Help me to know what it means to be your follower and help me to live my life according to Your will. In Your Holy Name, I pray. Amen”