Make room. Make space. Clean house. Get ready. Clean the inside of the cup. Prepare Him room. Prepare my heart.

You’ve brought me out into a spacious place. You rescued me because You delighted in me.

I typed these words into a note on my phone on May 11th. I didn’t know the fullness of what was coming; I couldn’t have guessed it. I just knew I needed to carve out space. To begin again the process of preparing my heart.

2 Samuel 22:20 (also Psalm 18:20) has always been a favorite verse of mine…

• “He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.” NIV
• “He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved—surprised to be loved!” MSG‬‬
• “He brought me forth into a large place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.” AMPC
• “He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because He delights in me.” NLT

In the Hebrew, the word for “large place” is (H4800) merḥāḇ; it means “enlargement, either literally (an open space, usually in a good sense), or figuratively (liberty); broad place, often metaphorically used of liberty and welfare Psalm 18:20, ‘and He brought me out into a wide space’ i.e. He delivered me from distresses, Psalm 31:8, 118:5.”

God has faithfully brought me to a place of liberty, an open space, a spacious place free from restrictions and distress. He has rescued me, delivered me, and set me free.

“I will be glad and rejoice in Your love, for You saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.” – Psalms 31:7-8

“When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; He brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; He is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.” – Psalm 118:5-7

God saw my affliction and knew my anguish. He heard my cries when I was under stress and pressure. His response? He set me in a spacious place. He has walked with me, every step of the way. He has given me freedom, protection and victory.

The word for “spacious place” comes from the verb rāḥaḇ (H7337). It means “enlarge, to broaden; to be or become wide, spacious.”

One of the places it’s found is Isaiah 54:2…

• “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” NIV
• “Clear lots of ground for your tents! Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big! Use plenty of rope, drive the tent pegs deep.” MSG

This verse has been stirring in my spirit for the past month. Broaden the space in my heart for God; don’t hold back! Remove the obstacles. Strengthen my connection to the Lord. Go deeper with Him.

One chapter is coming to a close; a fresh start is on the horizon. Sometimes we need to make room for His presence, give space for His Spirit to invade our souls, especially as we prepare for our next season.

I got to be on another amazing book launch team, this time for Rebecca Friedlander’s The Divine Adventure. (Pick up your copy today!!) It is full of spiritual disciplines to practically and intentionally grow in your relationship with God. In her chapter about pilgrimage, Rebecca wrote, “we create a space for God to show up in our lives.” I think this is true for all of the practices for us as modern-day disciples. When we step into the spacious places God has already provided, we are awake and aware of His goodness and love.