A Place to Dwell
“And they shall name Him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
Often, seasons of preparation are confusing to me. I find myself thinking, “Why do I have to prepare for Emmanuel when He already came? Why prepare for what I already have?” But there is beauty in the preparation. There’s beauty in preparing a place for God every day.
Though we already have Emmanuel, we can still prepare a place in our hearts for Him each day. When I go to prayer with a checklist and an agenda, what kind of place have I prepared for the Lord? Do I welcome Him into a board room or into my home? Do I welcome Him into my cozy living room (despite the messy kitchen) or into my office? Is there a table, a gulf, between us - or no distance at all?
We prepare for Jesus to come by preparing a place for Him to dwell within us.
Imagine your heart is a home. Do you simply let Jesus into the foyer or do you let Him help you purge your closet? Those are two very different things. I’m not always good at letting Jesus purge my closet. But when I do, it’s so much better than just letting Him into the foyer. It’s so much better to meet Him and see Him in all the good, bad, and ugly than to keep Him at arm’s length. When I open my hearts and allow space for Him, I’ve prepared a place where He wants to dwell.
Sisters, during this third week of Advent, let’s prepare a warm, welcoming place in our hearts for the Lord. Let’s open our hearts and allow the Spirit to lead us in preparing a place for God to dwell within us.
Father,
Thank You for coming down to meet us. Thank You for sending Emmanuel, Jesus, God with us, God among us. Thank You for generously offering us Your whole self time and time again.
Father, please show us how to open our hearts to You. Show us how to unravel and unwind in Your presence. Help us to feel free to be in Your presence and free for You to be in ours. God, teach us how to let You into every crevice of our personal space.
Father, we love You. We love You, God. May the openness of our hearts show You just how much. Amen.