Happy Friday, everyone. Last night I had a great gift from my wife—one that she’d given me a while back—tickets to see Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and C.C. Winans. We just had a wonderful time bringing in the Christmas season together with so much good music and such good worship. You know, it got me thinking, though, as I’m sitting there and we’re all singing Joy to the World, this line: “Let every heart prepare Him room.”

Now, perhaps it’s a line that we sing without thinking. But it’s the line that Advent keeps whispering to us over and over and over again.

Prepare.
Make space.
Clear room for the King.

You know, when we prepare today… when I woke up, it was zero degrees outside, and so it was rather cold, so I’m wearing this scarf, and I’ve got my jacket still on, and I’ve got a hat here that I might need to wear to keep my head warm. And I’ve got some gloves here that I’m going to be wearing—that steering wheel is awfully cold at zero degrees, I’m just saying—and then I’ve got some earmuffs. And let me just say that my wife laughs at me for wearing these, but can I just tell you that these are absolutely a game changer when you’re cold. Keeping those ears warm is important.

How do we prepare for our King? How do we prepare for Jesus? Because Christ doesn’t force His way in. He comes where He’s welcomed. He fills what we have opened. He renews what we surrender. Now, Advent calls us back to that simple mindset, into that simple calling: Prepare Him room. “Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3)

Straight paths, open spaces, a heart ready for His arrival. And when Christ finds room in us, His mercy moves through us. His generosity flows from us. His good work begins in us and goes beyond us. Because behind every good deed you offer today, this weekend, and throughout this Christmas season—every kindness, every prayer, every act of compassion—is the One you’ve prepared room for.

The One who is working in you, the One who is working through you. Prepare Him room. Watch Him work. Behind every good deed, He is there.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, prepare our hearts. Straighten what’s crooked in our lives. Open those places that we’ve closed up to You and to others. Fill the places that are empty in our lives and in our hearts. And let every good deed today simply point back to You, our Savior and our Redeemer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

ITTT