Prepare Him Room

Each Sunday morning of this Christmas season, after lighting the Advent candle, the congregation is invited to stand in worship and sing a very simple but powerful chorus from a song performed by Sovereign Grace Praise. The refrain “Prepare Him room, Prepare Him room,” sung without accompaniment, quietly raised in praise, brings me to tears every time. The unadorned simplicity of the chorus makes me ponder many questions. Jesus arrived, and his first bed was a manager, a feeding trough for animals because there was no room for them anywhere else in Bethlehem. After knocking on many doors, the answer was that we have no room. He arrived into a world that didn’t make room for Him because He was not the kind of King they were expecting. Over two thousand years later, do we still have problems finding a space for Jesus to occupy in this world He created? Do we make room for Him in our lives, homes, hearts, and everyday world? This is the true essence of Advent, to prepare Him room. When Christmas arrives, He is knocking at the door; open the door wide, invite the King of Glory to move in, and allow Him to take over our lives. I’ll close this tidbit with the words to the beautiful song “Prepare Him Room,” written by Stan Hinshaw, Dave Fournier and Rebecca Elliott. I pray you will ponder them in your heart this week.