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I am currently reading “The Sabbath” by Abraham Joshua Heschel. He writes regarding the days before the Sabbath:

The Sabbath is still away but the thought of its imminent arrival stirs in the heart a passionate eagerness to be ready & worthy to receive it.

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What does “Sunday” evoke in me I wonder? How do I approach the day? The day is to be dedicated to worshiping God. It is to be a day set apart, different from the other six days. He continues:

It is incumbent on every man to be very, very zealous in making the Sabbath day preparations, to be prompt & diligent as a man who has heard that the queen is coming to lodge at his house, or that the bride & her entire entourage are coming to his home. What would such a man do?

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As I sat reading this in the early morning darkness, I had some music playing softly so as not to wake anyone……

“Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.”


“Let every heart prepare Him room.”

If we are going to receive our King, then we are going to need to prepare Him room- in our hearts, in our lives. We must eagerly be ready & waiting for Him. Our God patiently waits for us to come to Him. He is ready & waiting to bless us with His Presence & His Word. It is, in affect, a mutual preparation. He for us & us for Him.

Rabbi Heschel asks the question, “What would a man do?” Yes, I wonder, what would a man do? What would this woman do this day to be prepared for the Sabbath? For her Savior?

“Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!” (Isaiah 40:3 NLT).

Clear the way through the debris that exists in our day.

Make a straight highway into our hearts & lives.

As we make the preparations, it happens….

He comes!

What will you do to be prepared for your Savior this day?