Make Room to Make Room

When I think of “make room,” my mind takes me to a garage. You know, the garages that accumulate so much stuff in them that you can’t even park your car. I’ll sometimes drive through a neighborhood and see cars parked in driveways, or even by the curbs, and I wonder if it is because these houses, that even have three-car garages, are just packed with so much stuff, that there isn’t any room to park even one car in them. Even on cold, rainy, snowy, or even stormy days, like during a hailstorm, the cars are outside, in all those elements that may cause damage to them. It’s pretty hard, if not impossible, to preserve an automobile in those conditions.

This may be a good analogy to use when we think about our lives and how it can affect our souls. But let’s first look at this scripture that relates to the Lord preserving us.

Today’s Scripture

"The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul." - Psalms 121:7 (KJV)

Inspirational Quote

“What matters is not the accomplishments you achieve; what matters is the person you become.” - John Ortberg

Excerpt From: “Soul Keeping.” Zondervan, 2014-03-01. iBooks. This material may be protected by copyright.

Tip from Trent

This encourages me so much, yet I can honestly think of times when I didn’t feel “preserved.” I mean, life has given me some nicks, scratches, and dents (wounds, disappointments, deep hurts), that makes me think I’ve been left out in the cold several times.

But I wonder, like the overcrowded garage, was that how my soul was in some of those times? I was crowded with pride, selfishness, ego, pleasures, worry, stress, etc., that my soul had no room for anything else. So instead of being “Under the shadow of the Most High,” I was out in the elements of sin, away from that secret place, to where my soul seemed to be parked outside God’s presence where I felt no protection.

I’m thinking if I desire to be preserved by the Lord, I should “make room” for Him in my life. Decisions without including God seem to cause stuff to just accumulate in our hearts. Talking to God, listening to Him, learning from scriptures, worshipping Him, and sensing His presence, are ways for us to keep the junk cleared out to where our souls can be preserved, just as scripture says.

Proverbs 2:11 - "Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee."

Study Suggestions

What are some things that are overcrowding your soul?  Unforgiveness, shame, bitterness, fear, insecurities, hurt? These have all crowded my soul. Let’s allow God’s grace and power to overcome these obstacles and allow Him to “make room” in our lives for Him (His truth, His presence). Three times a day, take five minutes, when you would be on social media, etc., and listen to a worship song, or just stop and pray.