Prepare the Way for the Lord

The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough places smooth;
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
- Isaiah 40:3-5

In Isaiah 40 and onwards, Isaiah is prophesying the future restoration and redemption that would come to the people of God and the world. The context he speaks into is one where the kingdom of Israel and Judah have fallen - where the people of God have fallen to the superpowers of Assyria and Babylon. They have gone into exile because they have turned away from the Lord. Prior to chapter 40, Isaiah has been prophesying and speaking of judgement, yet from verse 40 he is now prophesying comfort - comfort to the people of God. It is at this point that Isaiah prophesies of the future King, who will rule all Kings. He speaks of Jesus!

Isaiah 40:3 states, In the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. This scripture is referenced in the gospel of Mark, Mark 1:1-4 and speaks of John the Baptist, who would fulfill this prophecy and prepare the way for Jesus. John the Baptist had an incredible impact but his message was unpopular; his message was repentance and consecration. To prepare ourselves for what God has in our future, we need to consecrate ourselves to him first. To set ourselves apart and allow God to refine us, to prepare us. The pathway to the things of God is repentance and consecration.

Making a way in the desert means disturbing the current norm. Making a way in the desert means cultivating what has been uncultivated. Making a way in the desert means a level of agitation, it means working on what is not currently prepared and preparing it. It means bringing things into alignment and synergy. Dealing with the mountains that need lowering (blockages) and the valleys (weak things) that need raising, the uneven and rocky ground being made smooth. Like John the Baptist, we get the sense that God is calling for his people to adopt the posture of PREPARING THE WAY for God to move. For God to bring streams of LIVING WATER into lives that are destitute, dry and cut off.

Prayer Point:

Father, I consecrate myself to you afresh right now. I thank you Lord that as I prepare the way for you to come more in my life and my church, I ask that you would show me areas where I need to repent, remove blockages or idols that have set themselves up that would block your path. Lord, I consecrate myself to your plans and purpose for me and commit to preparing the way for you to come in your fullness and glory.