Have you ever entered a room that is completely full, and you stand there frozen? You’re quickly trying to figure out where you fit in and where you can sit. Maybe you find a friend who scoots over, and everyone squeezes out a little spot for you to slip in and join them. Maybe there’s someone like my grandpa who, anytime a woman entered the room, immediately stood up and offered his seat.
Something strikes me about both of these situations—how eager people are to make room.
But my guess is you’ve also experienced a time where you’ve entered a bus, a room, or an event, and nobody offers to make room for you. Nobody—not even the event organizers—prepared a place for you.
“Prepare Him Room”
I have been pondering the phrase “prepare Him room” – “let every heart prepare Him room” – the verse from the song, Joy to the World.
When Jesus entered the world, there was no room in the inn. He was born in a stinky stable, similar to what those in that day would have considered the place of birth for the lowest of the low.
Here’s the King of the world.
The Son of God.
God Himself.
He was preparing to live a perfect life, knowing He would die a horrific death on the cross. He left the comfort of heaven, and yet did He enter in the easiest way? No. He chose to be born of a virgin. In a stinky stable. He could have come and simply appeared—He’s God. He could have done whatever He pleased. He could have lived in the richest of places, in the most brilliant castle with all the luxuries, and yet He entered in a barn.
I don’t know about you, but the last time I was around horses and barns—speaking as a city girl—it didn’t smell so great. I can’t imagine having a baby in that circumstance.
And it makes me realize that even all those 2,000 years ago, the world didn’t have room for Jesus.
Do We Make Room for Him Today?
As I look around the world today, it saddens me to see that we still can barely fit Him in. Most of the time, we don’t even want to fit in church between football games on Sunday, let alone fit in a relationship with Jesus. We squeeze Him into whatever time we have left, instead of spending time with Him first.
Hear me on this, because I’m talking to myself too. Life gets busy. Life happens. And it becomes so full that I try to squeeze Jesus into what’s left—and that’s not how it works.
It reminds me of a rock visualization: if you place all the little rocks—the small, daily things—into the jar first, and then try to add the important things, you won’t have room for them. But if you place what is important first, such as spending time with Jesus, and then fill in the daily tasks, life flows better- it fits.
The Christmas Challenge
As we are now officially in the Christmas season, I want to challenge you with what I’m challenging myself:
How am I preparing room for Jesus in my heart?
How am I preparing room for Jesus in my life?
Am I giving Him the first and the best, or the leftovers?
This is the challenge: Prepare Him room—in your priorities, your schedule, your heart, and your home.
What will that look like this Christmas season?
And what will that look like in the new year?
(C) 2025 All Rights Reserved. Susan M. Clabaugh with Encouragement in Daily Living LLC
Susan is an author and speaker who loves to share her journey of God’s redemption and encourage others as they look to God. As a former elementary teacher with a passion for teaching, Susan also owns her own tutoring and consulting business where she empowers students and parents in reading. She lives in Missouri with her adorable and grumpy Persian cat.
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