Making Room for Jesus

Today's Readings:
AM - Psalm 88
PM - Psalm 91 and 92
Gospel - John 8:33-47

For reflection: What needs to be cleaned out of your life to make room for His word?

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Making room …when I hear these two simple words, a lot of things come to mind; things like, cleaning out a garage, a closet, a file, freeing up time and the list goes on and on and on. The real question is: What is the most important thing in one's life? It has been said that people will make time for what is important to them. The problem is we lose focus or never really understand what that “most important” thing is.  I wish I could say that I have it all figured out, but I don’t. I am still learning and growing.

What I do know is that having a relationship with Jesus needs to be at the top of my list. Psalms 91 and 92 provides some encouragement in this matter. John 14:1-4 also speaks to this as follows: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

The challenge I believe we all face is our busy schedules. Schedules that are full between work and activities that we are involved in, including church. What we must do is carve out a set time each day to spend in God’s Word, a time that we guard. This time needs to become second nature so that when it is missed we feel a void and quickly resume our time in the Word before we so easily fill the time with something else. For me the best time is early in the morning when my mind is fresh; for others it will be at the end of the day and others in the middle of the day depending on schedules. The bottom line, it is a discipline we all need and we must find a time that works for each of as individuals. May God grant us the courage to make it happen so we can grow in our knowledge of Him and His desire for our lives.

- Ken Brueshaber