I recently read this headline: “We need to be intentional about pursuing the presence of God, especially in these challenging times”. The following article was about the importance of making room for Jesus to allow Him to transform lives and bring healing and hope into our many difficult situations. It is there, in the presence of Jesus that we find peace, hope and healing.
Reflecting on Mindfulness, author and counsellor Dr Timothy Lane commented that Christians have a “personal, loving, accepting, forgiving, gracious and present Saviour, who aides us day by day through the work of the Holy Spirit within us”. He suggests that we are called to be mindful of our unity with Jesus and to be aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence, as it is from this moment-by-moment awareness we can live with grateful hearts and receive strength to reach out to others with compassion. One way we can be mindful as Christians is by punctuating our day with prayer. As we turn our eyes to Jesus we not only bring to Him everything on our hearts but also receive from Him all that He has for us.
Mindfulness is about continually making room for Jesus. It is a purposeful choice we can make throughout the day. According to the teachings of Brother Lawrence we can draw close to God our Father and be in His presence at any time during the day and no matter what is going on in our lives. He believed that we can find joy and peace even in the small and ordinary activities that fill our day, as in the words of Psalm 16:11:
“You will show me the path of life,
In Your presence is fullness of joy”.
In her new book*, singer/songwriter and worship leader Christy Nockels describes this as finding “the glorious in the mundane”.
As I was thinking about these things an old hymn I haven’t sung for decades came to mind. Apparently Emily Elliott wrote the lyrics based on Luke 2:7: “because there was no room for them in the inn”. She was writing for her Sunday school children to teach them about Jesus – His birth, life, crucifixion and promise to return. I hope the impact of the words blesses your time of contemplation and the short chorus resonates with you as we make room for Jesus today.
Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity:
Oh, come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
There is room in my heart for Thee.
Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth cam’st Thou, Lord, on earth,
And in great humility.
The foxes found rest, and the birds had their nest
In the shade of the cedar tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.
Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word
That should set Thy children free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary:
Oh, come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
Thy cross is my only plea.
When heaven’s arches shall ring, and her choirs shall sing
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me up, saying, “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee!”
And my heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus!
When Thou comest and callest for me;
(Emily Elizabeth Steele Elliott, 1836-97)
Ruth Leeming
*Christy Nockels, (2021) “The Life You Long For”