Introduction
Explore the meaning of The Inn Within and how it can deepen your spiritual journey with Christ throughout the year. The reflection concept for today’s devotion—and for next Sunday’s message as well—came to me while preparing for a Tuesday morning Ascent Bible Study. It centers on a familiar Christmas phrase that quietly confronts us all year long: “There was no room at the inn.” Over time, this phrase has taken on a deeper meaning for me—what I now call “The Inn Within.”
Parts of this reflection were inspired by my friend Tom H. from Douglasville, Georgia. About a year ago, Tom shared how he and his wife intentionally invite Christ into their daily lives through worship music on the car radio and by watching global scenic videos on YouTube—beautiful landscapes paired with calming spiritual music and rotating Bible verses. I adopted these practices myself, and I can testify: it sure beats the constant drumming of “Crisis Alert” that so easily crowds our minds and spirits.
The question before us today is simple, but searching: Have we truly made room for Christ within?
Quotation
“Christ cannot be crowded out unless we allow lesser things to take His place.” — A.W. Tozer
Scripture Focus
Luke 2:7 (NIV)
“and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”
Reflection: The Inn Within
The tragedy of Bethlehem’s inn was not cruelty—it was preoccupation. The world was busy. Rooms were full. Needs were pressing. And in that crowded moment, the Savior of the world was laid not in a guest room, but in a manger.
That scene repeats itself whenever Christ approaches the doors of our hearts and finds them cluttered with noise, worry, ambition, distraction, or even good things that have quietly taken first place.
Scripture reminds us that something extraordinary has happened since that holy night in Bethlehem:
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NIV)
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
The irony is striking. Humanity once made no room for God in a building, yet now God chooses to dwell within us. He asks us to clear space. We create that space by choosing worship on a morning drive, filling our surroundings with Scripture, and replacing anxiety with praise.
John captures this miracle beautifully:
John 1:14 (NIV)
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
The original language tells us that Christ “tabernacled” among us—He pitched His tent in human flesh. Today, by His Spirit, He pitches that tent within us. Our lives become sacred space.
Yet Paul offers a sober warning:
2 Corinthians 6:16 (NIV)
“For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’”
Just as the inn was crowded, our inner lives can become overfilled with idols—busyness, grudges, comforts, habits, constant media noise. None of these things are neutral if they leave no room for Christ.
The good news is that God is still building.
Ephesians 2:21–22 (NIV)
“In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
God does not demand perfection—He asks for availability. He asks us to clear space. We create that space by choosing worship on a morning drive, filling our surroundings with Scripture, and replacing anxiety with praise.
So the question lingers gently but firmly: What crowds the inn within you?
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Life Application
- Intentionally create quiet space for God each day.
- Replace constant “crisis noise” with worship or Scripture.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what needs to be cleared out.
- Remember: God is still “working on the building.”
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Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, forgive us when we crowd our hearts and push You aside. First, show us what we must remove. Then, teach us to choose You above all else. As a result, fill our lives and shape them into holy places where we welcome You, honor You, and love You every day. We open the inn within to You today. Amen.
Closing Song
Gaither Vocal Band – “Working On A Building (Live)”
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Acknowledgments
We thank:
Pixabay for free, high-quality artwork. (https://pixabay.com)
AZ Quotes for inspirational quotations. (https://www.azquotes.com)
YouTube Gospel Music for timeless worship songs. (https://www.youtube.com)
We recommend GotQuestions.org for further Bible study. (https://www.gotquestions.org)