Come Before You
“O Lord, in this Advent season, we come before You with open hearts.”
Revelation 3:20 (ESV)
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve paused and prepared room in our hearts for Christ's arrival. Like clearing out a guest room for a beloved visitor, we're invited to examine what fills our inner spaces as we pause and prepare. What occupies our thoughts, concerns, and dreams? While we celebrate a historical event—Christ's birth—we also embrace a present reality: God desires intimate fellowship with us today.
Opening our hearts isn't a one-time event but a daily choice. Sometimes, it means vulnerability; other times, it requires removing distractions that compete for our attention. The Lord stands patiently at the door of our hearts, not forcing entry but waiting for our invitation. This Advent season offers us a fresh opportunity to swing wide the doors of our hearts and welcome Him in.
Consider how Mary responded to the angel's announcement. Her heart was so open that she responded with complete surrender despite the shocking news: "Let it be to me according to your word." This openness allowed her to become part of God's redemptive story in a way she could never have imagined. Similarly, Joseph's open heart enabled him to overcome his initial doubts and embrace God's unconventional plan.
Opening our hearts can feel risky. We're trained to be guarded, skeptical, and self-protective. Yet the incarnation story teaches us that God often works through unexpected openness. When we dare to lower our defenses before God, we create space for divine encounters that can transform our lives. This openness isn't just about emotional vulnerability—it extends to every aspect of our being. It means being open to new understanding of Scripture, God's guidance in decisions, serving others in ways that stretch us, and seeing God's presence in unexpected places and people.
During this Advent season, we're invited to examine what barriers we've constructed that might keep God at arm's length. Perhaps it's past hurts that we've allowed to create walls of protection. Maybe busyness fills every space so thoroughly that there's no room for quiet contemplation. Or it could be intellectual pride that resists simple trust in God's promises.
The beauty of God's approach is that He doesn't demand we tear down all our walls simultaneously. Like the gentle knocking described in Revelation, He patiently waits for us to open whatever door we're ready to unlock. Each small act of opening our hearts creates more space for His presence to dwell. When we cultivate an open heart, we create space for the miracle of Christmas to become real in our lives today.
Take a moment to reread today’s Scripture passage and then spend some time reflecting on the following questions:
Revelation 3:20 (ESV)
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
What areas of your heart have remained closed to God? What would it look like to fully open them to Him this Advent season?