Isaiah 40:3-5
A voice is calling out: In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord. In the wasteland make a level highway for our God. Every valley will be raised up, and every mountain and hill will be made low. The rugged ground will become level, and the rough places will become a plain. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh together will see it. Yes, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We need major construction to happen in our wandering of life’s wilderness continuously. We live in a wasteland of sin that surrounds our lives. But just as highways are built, we observe the construction that happens with one step at a time. Some places need to be filled in, others need to be dug out, and this is a process of front-end loaders, excavators, backhoes, and trucks moving, layering, grading, and packing the dirt until one area is raised and another is reduced.
Our lives are not changed in an instant. Lord, guide us to recognize the depressed spots and the high regions of sin in our lives. We feel hopeless over our sins, traumatized by guilt and shame, while in other parts of our lives, pride keeps us from seeing the error in their ways. It is your construction of our hearts that you prepare us, through Your Holy Spirit’s work, to recognize our sins and fall on our knees, asking for forgiveness. Prepare the way of our Lord, your Son, so that as we see our sins, we also know Jesus has already paid the price and has declared us not guilty for every sin. We need Christ; He suffered on the cross for every sin.
May Jesus lift and restore us when the world has thrown us down in the depression of our losses, and may he remove those stumbling blocks of doubt. Lord, please make the way in front of us a level plain.
As we prepare for Christmas, may we see this as a season of self-reflection, knowing the ongoing construction in our hearts. We ask for the courage to share this good news of your love and mercy with those who do not know you and prepare them to know and trust their Savior, Jesus. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
A change of heart can happen, but like construction, it occurs one step at a time. Rome was not built overnight; be confident in the Lord’s timing. He loves you and is continuously at work on you; by faith in Jesus, you will one day be finally home with him in heaven.