Another popular phrase in Christian preaching circles in December is either advice or admonition to prepare your heart for the coming of Jesus. There is a sense that this is a remembrance. We remember and celebrate the event of Jesus birth as a human in Bethlehem 2013 years ago–more or less.
Try out another sense of what it means for Jesus’ coming. Every new person who is born every day since that first event must welcome Jesus into its being. Some of us have already experienced that dwelling within us of God’s Spirit. But many have not. Some think they have, but are fooling themselves. That is the most lamentable.
But all of us must seek the renewal of Jesus coming into our lives or the expectation of meeting Jesus fresh for the first time. There is an ancient saying that a jar is not useful unless it is empty. The saying must be taken in the spiritual sense. If your mind and life are full of plans for what food you’ll be preparing for family celebrations, with what presents you must give to others, with what presents you wish to receive, with many cares about finances or conflicts, then there is no room for Jesus to enter. If you have something valuable to store, first you must empty a container before you can store the valuable thing.
Just so with Jesus. First, you must quiet your mind and emotions. Seek a quiet place, even if only for 15 minutes at a time. Read something from the Bible. Sit quietly, listen to your breathing and let thoughts, cares and worries drift in and out of your mind until you are finally empty. As you sit quietly in expectation you are now prepared for Jesus to make room in your inner life.
As you learn to seek quiet, you will experience what the Spirit can do for you. You will be refreshed. You will also gain perspective on life. And you will be able to enter the busy world with the attitude of serving in the name of Jesus–the very servant leader Jesus trained his first disciples to be.
Tags: Christianity, Prayer, spirit
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