Room for Jesus Advent Celebration

Are You Making Room for Jesus in Your Advent Celebration?

Posted on by Michele Morin

Sunday Scripture

One of my earliest Christmas memories is the sadness of learning that for baby Jesus there was “no room in the inn.” Adding to my distress was the mistaken idea that they had no source of water either–a simple misunderstanding of the Christmas carol, Noel–interpreted by pre-school ears as “no well.”

Jesus’s earliest moments spent in a borrowed feeding trough certainly demonstrate incarnation as a humble beginning, just as his crucifixion demonstrated his obedience “to the point of death.” It’s true that “he made himself nothing.”

Even so, as someone who suffered long ago over Jesus’s pitiful welcome to the world, you’d think I would do a better job of making room for him in my celebration of his birthday! With the many ways we interpret Christmas in our world today, it’s all too easy for the decorations, lights, music, gifts, and menu-planning to fill every moment and every corner of our hearts.

For me, the observance of Advent has been monumental in the formation of spiritual practices leading up to Christmas. All means of grace–prayer, scripture reading, fasting, meditation–serve us by making space, creating room for God to work in our hearts and lives. By meeting with him each day, we build a meaningful celebration of his birth.

Room for Jesus

Today’s carol in Welcoming the Light, my guided journal for Advent, is “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne,” and we’re meditating on the phrase:

“O come to my heart, Lord Jesus—There is room in my heart for Thee!”

And so, I will gently ask you (as I ask myself): Is there?

Are you determined to leave room in your Advent season for Jesus? He stands ready to help you in your worship and your quiet moments of reflection over the next four weeks.

When we are weak, we fall back on our habits, so it’s important to have good ones! Make the commitment today to establish the habit of welcoming the true Light each day of Advent. How is the True Light showing up in your life today on this first Sunday of Advent?

Holding You in the Light this Advent Season,

“O come to my heart, Lord Jesus–there is room in my heart for thee.” Are you determined to leave room in your Advent season for Jesus? He stands ready to lead you into quiet moments of reflection over the next four weeks.

Photo by Greyson Joralemon on Unsplash

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Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four sons, four daughters-in-love, and six adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

51 thoughts on “Are You Making Room for Jesus in Your Advent Celebration?”

  1. I have been waiting for the start of Advent for the last several weeks. Expectancy is bubbling in my heart as I wonder – What will He speak into my heart? May we lean into His Word, His Light, and hear Him whisper hope and life as we wait!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Hi Michele! Thank you for your advent devotions! I am so looking forward to the rest! Todays hymn was beautiful! The last verse reminded me of Mark 8:38

    Let thy voice call me home saying Yet there is room at my side for thee. My heart shall rejoice when thy comest and callest for me! In Mark 8, I’m reminded to live unashamed for Jesus so He is not ashamed of me when He comes in the glory of His father with the holy angels. I want my heart to rejoice when He comes for me not be sad and scared because i lived ashamed , I want to live with all the room in my heart for Him and rejoice when he calls for me:)

    Amen! Amy

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

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    1. I love this meditation, Amy, and so appreciate the way you’ve though out loud for us all to profit from here! Blessings on you as you continue to prepare your heart for the celebration of Jesus’s birth.

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  5. What a tender heart you had, even as a preschooler, being concerned about the holy family and their lack of water! This year may allow a more meditative Christmas season than usual since I scaled back the decorating a bit and finished last week, the shopping is done, and there are no events on the calendar to attend because of Covid. (My husband is immune-compromised after a liver transplant 3 years ago so we have to avoid crowds.) I’m actually looking forward to a more restful, contemplative Christmas.

    Liked by 1 person

    2. I appreciate your peaceful acceptance of things as they are, Nancy. And we are starting out quietly and scaled back, but family is going to be gathering toward the end of the month. It’s a joyful prospect, but I sense in myself a need to muster my resources to prepare for chaos! (A happy chaos, for sure!)

      Liked by 1 person

  7. I love that song, and the poignant question that it keeps asking. Like most people, I have a tendency to be so busy “getting ready for Christmas” that I don’t make room in my heart for the very One whose coming we celebrate. May we all be ready and have room this year.

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  8. I have discovered that so many songs I learned as a child were learned with wrong words and missed words. Some make more sense with the right words, and frankly, some don’t. Yes, to making room for Jesus in this advent season. I don’t want to forget that he is the reason we are building up and planning for Christmas.

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  10. Yesterday, we had Stir Up Sunday where we make our Christmas Pudding. A few years ago, I made a way of retelling the Christmas story with each ingredient that goes in. It’s such a lovely way to ensure that Jesus is right in the heart of our festive celebrations! #MischiefAndMemories

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  11. I giggled over the ‘no-well’ interpretation of Noel! It goes to show how easy it is to misinterpret what we hear—whether we are five or 55. As I make room for Jesus this season, I’ll remember to keep my focus on him, not my to-do list!

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  14. Thank you so much for sharing, visiting, and commenting on posts at the Senior Salon Pit Stop.
    Pinned to Senior Salon Pit Stop InLinkz Linkup Shares board and tweeted @EsmeSalon #SeniorSalonPitStop

    Liked by 1 person

  18. I had to laugh at this youthful misunderstanding, “One of my earliest Christmas memories is the sadness of learning that for baby Jesus there was “no room in the inn.” Adding to my distress was the mistaken idea that they had no source of water either–a simple misunderstanding of the Christmas carol, Noel–interpreted by pre-school ears as “no well.”

    When our children were young, we would tuck them into bed and turn on the Audio Bible. After hearing my oldest daughter busting out in laughter several nights in a row, I stayed in the room to find out what was so funny. My daughter “mis-heard” one of the names in the genealogies as Nachos and she thought it was hilarious that a plate of nachos was in the genealogy of Jesus.

    Thanks for the smile!

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  20. I have been singing carols for the last week and will keep doing so! I love celebrating the season with songs of joy that God gave us His only son and experienced humanity. Thanks for linking up with #MischiefAndMemories

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  21. I was just pondering for my post tomorrow how we do so many things over the holidays in His name–yet leave off actually fellowshipping with Him. May we seek that good portion Mary sought at His feet.

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  22. No well lol!
    Our children are in Catholic school which definitely helps, as a busy adult, to remind one of what Advent is actually all about. I find going to mass each Sunday is also enough to bring me back to the true meaning even if during the week I get distracted by decorations and gift buying.
    Wishing you a very happy Christmas and thank you for your support for #MischiefandMemories this year
    Kirsty x

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