Just after turning 24, I moved from my hometown in Massachusetts to Vail, Colorado. The move was motivated by a job opportunity I had accepted. There was going to be a significant increase in pay and new adventures to be experienced in a beautiful place. I suppose it was a good thing that I was only focused on the benefits of the move. If I had taken the time to think through the difficulties, perhaps I would have stayed put.
Upon arriving in my new hometown, it did not take me long to identify my biggest need. I was lonely. At that time in my life, meeting new people seemed like an insurmountable obstacle. For about 5 months, I worked all day and then retreated to my apartment. But then my best friend from high school decided that he was ready for a change as well and was moving to Vail! I was ecstatic! It would be great to have a wing man.
He was making the move with no money, which meant he was going to need a place to stay for a few months until he could get his financial situation in order. Even though I was living in a 300 square foot (if I am being generous) studio apartment, I was happy to make room for him. I jammed a bunch of my things under my bed to create a space large enough for a twin sized futon, then bought said futon, and had it set up for him on the day of his arrival. The inconvenience and the cost meant nothing to me. I had a need, and my friend was coming to meet it. I would have done anything to make room for him.
The same thing is true for me when it comes to my relationship with Jesus. When I am in need, I will bend over backwards to make room for Him. My Bible reading goes up, my prayer life takes off, I start listening to more worship music, it’s great to have Him by my side. These are the seasons where I experience a lot of spiritual growth.
In Vail, with my friend by my side, I was more confident in making new relationships. Within a couple months of his arrival, both of us were enjoying a growing community of friends. With my need met, sharing my small accommodations with him started to feel claustrophobic. Day-by-day I was less interested in making room for him, loneliness was no longer my greatest felt need.
Unfortunately, this can also be true of my relationship with Jesus. When the places of tension in my life subside, it is all too easy for me to shift my reliance on Jesus to reliance on myself or something else, like money, other relationships, work, etc. The battle that I am constantly fighting against my flesh is to make room for Jesus at all times, no matter the season I am in.
This week I was reading Psalm 145. Verses 14-19 have been a good reminder of not only the ongoing need I have to make room for Jesus, but the joyous blessing of His presence.
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord “hears their cry and saves them,” that is when my needs are greatest, and they compel me to connect with Him. However, He also “fulfills the desire of those who fear him,” which speaks to my ongoing need for Him, even when my life is seemingly well. The Lord is always “near to all who call on Him,” or as we could state another way, “those who make room for Him.”
We are just a handful of days into our 21 days of fasting and feasting. We have titled these three weeks, “Making Room for God.” If you have not joined this time of prayer and fasting, I would like to invite you to lock arms with us. Your 21 days can begin at any time. Regardless of the season you are in, our greatest need and our greatest provision is always Jesus.