Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room (from “Joy to the World”)

By Virginia Lefler
Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Scripture Reading:
Luke 10:38-42

Is there room for Jesus in your life? Our lives can get busy and sometimes Jesus ends up getting pushed out. Let’s consider how Mary made room for Jesus and how Jesus made room for her.

Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” ⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

There are two things I find remarkable about the account of Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus. First, despite the culture surrounding women at that time, Mary felt comfortable sitting among the men listening to a rabbi; and second, that Jesus welcomed her. When her sister Martha challenged her choice, Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen “what is better.”

Mary chose to make room for Jesus, and Jesus made room for her. She sat at the feet of an amazing Rabbi, listening and learning. Like Mary, we are invited to make room for Jesus.

John 14:23 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

Jesus promises to come and make His home with us. This promise is for “anyone.” And this is not just a visit – He plans to move in. We get to live and walk with Jesus every day.

Making Room for Jesus in Your Heart

The place Jesus wants to live is in your heart. Did you know that the spiritual heart is mentioned over 800 times in the Bible? Engaging your heart is a theme throughout the Bible. Your heart is the center of your relationship with Jesus.

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

…People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

One of the ways we make room for Jesus in our heart is through meditation.

Psalm 77:6

…I will meditate with my heart…

Meditation is a spiritual discipline that is taught in the Old and New Testaments, and it is done with your heart. It is a discipline that has helped me fall more in love with Jesus each passing year. Over the ten years that I have practiced Bible meditation, I have adopted six steps of meditation to help me linger with a scripture and dig deeply into it. I will share briefly about each step.

Step 1 - RETREAT: Find your alone place to meet with Jesus.

Step 2 - READ: Read the scripture for the first time.

Step 3 - REFLECT: Read it again. What word or phrase stands out to you?

Step 4 - REQUEST: Begin this step with a prayer asking God for wisdom to see His heart and to hear His invitation.

•        Read it again. What does this scripture tell you about God’s heart?
•        Read it again. Is God offering you an invitation? If so, what is it?

Step 5 - RESPOND: Read it again. What emotion does this scripture stir in your heart?

•        Respond in prayer telling God what you have found in your heart. Sometimes it an unpleasant emotion; sometimes it a positive emotion. Tell God and express your heart to Him.

Step 6 - REMEMBER: Read it one last time. What word or short phrase can you take with you to help you remember this meditation?

This simple practice of reading a scripture several times and asking these questions can give you beautiful insights into God’s heart and insights into your own heart. It can help you fall more in love with Jesus, and it can help you gain insights, renew your mind, and draw closer to God.

Making Time for Jesus

I am more like Martha than Mary. I often have a long to-do list, and like Martha, I can be worried and upset about many things. Bible meditation has helped me become more aware of what is going on inside of me, such as worry and other unwanted thoughts. I have often experienced the Spirit stirring my heart and reminding me of my meditation earlier that day.  One of the unexpected benefits of Bible meditation has been that it helps me multiply my time. I have learned to quickly turn away worry and anxiety. What a time saver!

As a young Christian, I thought a quiet time had to be at least 60 minutes. With this idealistic expectation, I sometimes missed my Bible study altogether. However, I have learned that I can have an inspiring meditation in just 15 minutes. I prefer longer meditations, but on days when I am pressed for time, I can still enjoy a moving time in the scriptures. Even 15 minutes sets me up to spend my day in a more peaceful manner and helps me to feel God’s presence.

Bible meditation is a beautiful way to make room for Jesus. If you are unfamiliar with it, I would like to invite you to join me in one of my guided meditation videos on my website: https://BibleMeditation.com/guided-meditations/. You will find meditation videos on the peace that Jesus offers, overcoming anxiety, your value to God, and more.

Questions for Reflection:

1.      Do you struggle with making room for Jesus? If so, what is your greatest challenge (or distraction)?
2.      Do you find that you lose time with worry and other unwanted thoughts? If so, how much time do you think you would gain each day if you could quickly turn away those types of thoughts?
3.      What is the impact of making room in your heart for something?

Today I will:

Take a favorite scripture (1 or 2 verses long) and meditate on it using the 6 steps mentioned above. (For example, 1 Peter 5:7 or Colossians 1:13-14).

About the Author:

Virginia Lefler is the author of Bible Meditation & Mindfulness – A Practical Guide to an Ancient Practice. She is also the author of A Gentle & Quiet Spirit, Pursuing Purity and Spiritual Beauty and co-author of Spiritual Discovery – 7 Principles for Spiritual Growth. She has been a disciple of Jesus for 40 years. Virginia and her husband, Jim, have been married since 1972 and live near Atlanta, Georgia. They have two sons, two daughters-In-law and four granddaughters. Her latest project is a YouTube channel devoted to helping Christians learn how to meditate on scripture using the six steps she shares in her book. You can find all her YouTube meditation videos on her website: https://BibleMeditation.com/guided-meditations.

To hear a special version of "Joy to the World" sung by your sister Amy Kinzer, click the image below:

Photo Credits:

(Meditation photo-Bible)

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash