December Daily Day 2 -- Prepare Your Heart

Let every heart prepare Him room--

Christ has come. Is there room in your heart for Him?

Col. 1:3-5 says: We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints---the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you.

Todays installment is going to be short and sweet. Our hope is Christ. He is the one who makes hope for the future, for the present and for our past, possible. 

He has defeated the enemy, forgiving and redeeming us for all time, reserving a seat in the glorious presence of God. 

But this is not only for the future! Our hope rests in Him for today! But our hearts must be prepared to receive what he has for us. 

Good, bad and ugly. 

Mostly it is our perspective that we need to change. The way we perceive that which we receive is what makes the difference. 

If we think of everything...the good: fun, beautiful, lovely or the bad: hurt, pain and disappointment or the ugly: sickness, death, disease as coming from His hand, then we would learn of Him. Rest in Him. 

But in order to do this, our hearts have to be prepared ahead of time. 

But how? By remembering who God is, and His promises to us. By encouraging ourselves in the Lord. By committing our hearts to Him regardless of the way things look on the outside. 

"O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like you in Heaven or on earth

--you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way." 2 Chron. 6:19

Blessed is the man who does not  walk in the counsel of the wicked, 

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, 

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,  which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers. 

Ps. 1:1-3 

So prepare your heart. 

There will be interruptions, disruptions and disappointments. 

You won't have time to do everything, and you will let people down. 

You will be faced with some tough situations, and tough choices. 

But our Hope is in Him.

He is who we want to please. We will stand before Him in the end.

Spend time with Him, Rest in Him. Be still in Him. Get to know Him.

Ponder the Wonder.

Make room in your busy schedule for Him. 

Don't leave Him out; don't leave Him behind. 

After all, it is HIS Birthday.

And find a way to express to others that "faith and love that springs forth from the hope."

Perhaps you could send a note of love to someone who needs the reminder this season. Or just a hug at the right time. Or a prayer. God will show you.