Dear Friends,

As Christmas draws near, I want you to know that HOPE was born this month. Today, Jesus can be YOUR HOPE and help in these troubling times if you open your heart and MAKE ROOM for Him.

In Luke chapter 2, Mary and Joseph traveled, and Mary went into labor, so they stopped for the night. Joseph searched for a quiet place for Mary to give birth, but unfortunately, no rooms were available in the inn! The only thing they could find was a stable where animals were housed.

“While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have the baby, and she gave birth to her first son. Because there were no rooms left in the inn, she wrapped the baby with pieces of cloth and laid him in a box where animals are fed.” Luke 2:6-7 (NCV)

Reading these verses, it all sounds so “matter of fact.” But can you imagine how cold and callous the inn manager must have been to refuse this young lady? Especially when she was in the middle of labor! No one, not one single tenant, offered to double up or sleep on the floor so that this woman could have a decent place to deliver her baby! Instead, she was put in a room that was…well, the furthest place from clean and sanitary!

In today’s terms, this kind of callous treatment would be an outrage, don’t you think? And yet, this would be just the beginning of the injustices Jesus would suffer as He grew up and eventually died on the Cross to pay for our sins so that we would not have to suffer the penalty for them (hell/separation from God). Since Jesus paid for our sins with His own death, He can now offer forgiveness for our sins, plus He can show us the way to have an abundant life now and everlasting life forever! But we must MAKE ROOM in our hearts and lives for Him!

Today, I ask, “Do you want a better life? If so, is there room in your heart for Jesus?” Are you willing to listen to and learn from Him? The Good News is that Jesus can show you, through His divine wisdom, how to navigate and overcome areas of sin, pain, and heartache, bringing you into a life that is both full and fulfilling!

In the following pages, we’ll look at practical ways to MAKE ROOM in our lives for Jesus. I encourage you to unwrap these Christmas gifts by reading and re-reading them, praying over them, and asking the Lord to open your eyes to a new way of living free!

Merry Christmas!

Life With Father Ministries

MAKING ROOM

When making room for something new, we must first clear out what is old and no longer useful. If you’re cleaning out your refrigerator, you would first remove all the old spoiled items. You would throw out anything molded or outdated because it is unsafe or possibly hazardous to eat. This would, of course, give you more room for fresh food!

It is much like this in a spiritual sense. We must eliminate old mindsets and attitudes that have created unhealthy habits and unproductive ways of living. These may be superstitions, idols, lies, or myths we’ve picked up in times past. These things hinder us from living the good life! Ephesians 4:31-32 says this: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (NLT) In other words, get rid of these rotten thoughts and actions. How? By REPLACING them with good, godly thoughts from the Scriptures that can restore your life!

Let me give you a visual illustration of this principle. You know the darkness automatically disappears when you turn on a light in a dark room. You can turn that light switch on a million times, and the light will still overtake the darkness in the room. It is much the same with our thoughts. If you begin to put God’s life-giving words in your mind, the old negative thoughts will give way to the new. It’s like a glass that contains black dirty water. If you pour in clean, fresh water and keep pouring, all that dark water will eventually overflow out of the glass until all that’s left is pure, clear water!

We must replace our bad attitudes and thoughts by putting in new godly thoughts—God’s thoughts (His Words) are full of LIVING POWER that will produce lasting change in our lives!“For the word of God is alive and powerful.” Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) Proverbs 4:20-27 explains how vital God’s Word is to us… “My child, pay attention to my words; listen closely to what I say. Don’t ever forget my words… They are the key to life for those who find them; they bring health to the whole body. Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life. Don’t use your mouth to tell lies… always do what is right.”

Some people think they can defy God by continuing in their own way of thinking and living—despising some people, hating others, seeking revenge, wallowing in hurt and pain, refusing to forgive, persisting in bitterness and resentment… The truth is, this way of thinking is not only destructive to the person but counterproductive to successful living! In other words, your old way of thinking will NEVER get you to where you want to go! It is similar to a farmer who sprays poison on his fields and then wonders why he can’t get his crops to grow! He doesn’t realize that he’s self-sabotaging his own efforts! It’s like having one foot on the car’s accelerator and one foot on the brake and wondering why the car won’t move! Friends, there’s a BETTER WAY!!

Galatians 6:7-9 explains, “Do not deceive yourselves; no one makes a fool of God. You will reap exactly what you plant… So let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest.” (GNT) What do you need to discard from your heart and mind TODAY to MAKE ROOM for God’s GOODNESS and POWER?

BURNED OUT ON RELIGION?

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

In making room for Jesus, we must let go of “religious duty.” I like how the Message translation puts this passage because it helps us transition from religion to a RELATIONSHIP with the person of Jesus Christ. The problem with religious duty is that it neatly compartmentalizes our sins, then requires us to do penance or give sacrifices to try and appease a God who is already angry at us! But then we go right on sinning, and the endless cycle continues. This is more like a life of insanity than holiness! Friends, this is NOT how the Lord would have us live our lives because this kind of thinking and living leaves the most crucial element out of the mix—the heart! God is very clear on this issue… David said in Psalm 51:16-17, “…You do not delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.” (AMP)

The only thing the Lord requires of us is a LIVING interaction with Him! Isn’t that what any person would require in a relationship? Not perfect performance, but just plain HONESTY! David told us what the Lord really requires of us in Psalm 51:6, “Sincerity and truth are what you require… (GNT) Going through the outward motions is a deadly duty because it cuts us off from a living relationship with the Lord! The Holy Spirit wants to communicate with you on a Heart Level. This is where honesty and sincerity live—a place where you will find great satisfaction and fulfillment! Following are just a few tips to begin MAKING ROOM for Jesus in your life:

• Clear your mind and your schedule! If things are going to change in your life, then that change must begin with YOU! Realize that Jesus must become a priority in your life if you want a fresh start. There are only so many hours in a day, and we all make room (time) for the most important things. Make time to read His Words—the Scriptures. Download a Bible Reading Program if needed. If you get side-tracked, don’t feel bad; get up and RETURN to your original commitment to putting Him first place!
• Don’t just read the verses; think about them, put them to memory if possible, study them, and look up the meaning of things that are unclear to you. Remember, God’s Word is alive and active and He will begin to rearrange your life if you allow Him to! Don’t resist His changes; He loves you with an everlasting love and will always do what’s best for you! Trust Him in this, and He will do it!

Give God the right to direct your life, and as you trust him along the way, you’ll find he pulled it off perfectly! Psalm 37:5 (TPT)

Ask the Lord to fill you with His love and compassion daily. Ask Him to show you how to practice what you are learning. Ask Him to show you how you can become a blessing to others. Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped. Proverbs 11:25 (GNT)

HAVE YOU BEEN BORN AGAIN?

“Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine.] Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.” Matthew 11:28-29 (TPT)

Here is that same passage in the Passion Translation! The TPT NOTES says: As translated from the Hebrew, the Aramaic could be translated “Come to me and I will cheer [refresh] you. I am cheerful [refreshing] and humble in heart, and you will find cheer [refreshing] for your soul.”

Make no mistake, we do not merely add Jesus to the mix of our lives—we join our lives to Him and what He is doing. In this way, the Lord becomes an unlimited source of joy and strength for us! In Him, we find refreshment (renewal of strength and mental fortitude) and much-needed rest (the UNFORCED rhythms of GRACE!) In joining our lives with His, we become spiritually Born Again and are given a brand-new life!

Jesus said in John 3:3-7, “I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God.”… The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. So don’t be surprised at my statement that you must be born again.” (NLT)

To begin a life of purpose and fulfillment, all that is needed at this point is to BELIEVE and SURRENDER—believe that God is bigger than your sins as well as other people’s sins against you. He is infinitely greater than your anger, despair, pain, and misery. And God is so much bigger than what man’s religion has portrayed Him to be. He can take your life, as small and insignificant as you think it is, and transform it to factory-new status. God doesn’t just make you a better person; he makes you a BRAND-NEW person!

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 1 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

When we become Born Again, we are no longer adrift in life, as we now have solid direction and purpose. If you want to be Born Again, without putting it off another minute, you can pray the following prayer and be assured of eternal salvation. Also, get into a good church whenever possible to learn more about the Lord so you can spiritually grow.

PRAYER FOR SALVATION: Dear Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I accept your sacrifice on the Cross as payment for my sins. I ask you to forgive my sins, come into my heart, make me a new person, and give me eternal life. I ask that you would be my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord, for giving me newness of life! Help me now, Lord, to be honest with you, myself, and others. Create in me a clean heart and cause me to be willing to obey you in everything! Amen.