In part one we looked at why we need to make room for God.
There are two main reasons that we don’t…
The first is: We are doing okay… we get by on our own strength and we forget to rely upon God.
The second is: We are really not okay.
Perhaps we feel that there are circumstances in our life that are getting the better of us and God (or religion) really isn’t the answer. Even if we know God is the answer we just don’t find the time. God is someone we can come back to later.
It could also be that we feel too ashamed to face up to our troubles. Making room for God forces us to challenge ourselves… so we make room for something else instead.
A Way Back
The Bible tells us that, no matter what our circumstances, no matter where we are in life, whatever we’re doing, however we are living… there is always a route back to God.
In our distress, God can be a source of relief to us. If we make room for God…
…God will always make room for us…
Psalm 18:35-36
You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
The word “enlarged“… or “broadened” is also translated as “made room”!
God is with us on our journey and will make room for us. He will broaden our path, guiding us along the way. He will be there for us.
Psalm 18: 1-2
I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
In just two verses David makes nine references to God as a support – “strength, rock, fortress, deliverer, strength (again), trust, shield, salvation, stronghold.”
Our Biggest Enemy?
Like us, David was mortal and sometimes relied upon his own strength. There were times he might have given God reason not to be interested in him. However, David demonstrated faith in the forgiveness and mercy of God:
Psalm 18: 3
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.
It’s a powerful verse: “call upon the Lord”, “worthy to be praised”, “saved from my enemies”
So often our biggest enemy is ourselves.
God makes room for us if we call upon him – he will even protect us from ourselves, providing support when we need it.
Psalm 25: 17
The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.
In Hebrew (the language of the Bible’s original manuscripts), the word “enlarged” Psalm 25:17 is the same word that we read before as: “broadened” and “make room”.
Of course, making room for the troubles or problems of this life will do us no good at all. Including God in our life helps us deal with the problems, not least of all because we have the promise of God’s Kingdom at Jesus’ Return.
Prepared
And so we must be prepared…
We cannot fully anticipate the troubles that the earth will face prior to Christ’s return but we can be sure God will help us face them.
And while the choices “to make room” for God is the best choice, it’s not necessarily the easiest choice…
Matthew says:
“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake…
However:
“But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
Matthew 10:22 NKJV
Enduring to the end is another subject for another blog. It’s enough to say that the rewards will be great if we concentrate on making room for God and are driven by a vision of a future earth where pain and suffering will be removed forever – the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.
Matthew 5: 10
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
We make room for the things that are important to us.
Therefore, regardless of how well we think we are doing, or how badly we think we are doing… we must remind ourselves of why God is important to us.
God always makes room for us. We have to make room for Him.
We are blessed to have a knowledge of Him and his son and the Kingdom to come upon this earth. Jesus has bridged the infinite space between our sin and the greatness of God. The way has been made for us to follow him through baptism.
2 Peter 3: 9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Some would argue that Jesus has been away too long. God is not slack (or slow) concerning his Promise to return Jesus to the earth. God’s plan and purpose will be fulfilled in His good time.
In the meantime we have an opportunity to hold fast to the truth, to God’s Word.
We can find strength in it, making it the most important thing in our lives…
…so that we are always looking to make room for God.
Galatians 3: 6
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
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If you’d like an organised way of making room for God download our Bible Reading Calendar (see picture above). It’s a PDF that can be printed on A3. Each day on the calendar has a space to write a short note as well as containing a chapter from the Bible to read.
