• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Connect
    • Tuesday Together
  • Encourage
    • Rule of Life
    • Lectio Divina
    • Personal Year-end Examen
    • Reading Recommendations
  • Prepare
    • Leadership Training
    • LSM Facilitator Resources
  • Formation Zoé
Lifesprings International Ministries

Lifesprings International Ministries

Encouraging, preparing, and connecting women to impact their communities with the love of God.

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Give
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Prepare the Way of the Lord

April 16, 2019 by Ezers Leave a Comment

Listen:

 “A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’ Isaiah 40:3  

“This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: The voice of one calling in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight paths for him.'” Matthew 3:3

Reflect:

It is Tuesday of Holy Week.  For the last 6 weeks, millions of people around the world have been observing Lent; a time of reflections, prayer and preparation for Easter. During this time of Lent have we been preparing ourselves to truly celebrate? In reflecting on the call to “prepare the way of the Lord,” I wondered what exactly is the Lord asking of us?

In ancient times, to “prepare the way” meant the clearing of debris off of the roads in preparation for royal visits, or for those who were holy enough to travel the roads between temples.  In Isaiah’s proclamation in Isaiah 40:3, the road needed to be cleared for the LORD.  Since the Old Testament often uses the physical, with overtones of the spiritual to communicate important information, it is believed that Isaiah is speaking of “preparing the way” for the return of the Jewish exiles. God is telling them that he will clear the way for their return. This was a great and wonderful promise. 

Matthew 3:1-3 applies the phrase “prepare the way of the Lord” as a call to repentance and the voice is now identified as John the Baptist.  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near,” in Matthew 3:1-2, the spiritual meaning fully takes hold. John is calling for the road to be made straight, clearing the heart of debris in preparation of repentance and ultimately, the coming of the Messiah. Hallelujah!

Today, let us take these verses to heart- literally. In order to do so, perhaps we must ask ourselves a question.   What do we need to remove from our lives in order to “prepare the way for the Lord” in our hearts now? May we be ready to celebrate this Easter.

Prayer of Response:

“Dear Lord, I pray that my heart would be prepared to hear and accept what needs to be cleared out of my life in order to prepare the way for you. Please help me to make straight the desert regions of my life, so that my heart would reflect your love. May the walls of self protection crumble so that my desires would align with yours, Lord. I pray this in your precious and sovereign name, AMEN.”

—Submitted by Danielle Hathaway

Category iconUncategorized

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Celebrating Fall with Thanksgiving and Praise
  • Celebrating Fall with Thanksgiving and Praise
  • Celebrating Fall with Thanksgiving and Praise
  • Celebrating Fall with Thanksgiving and Praise
  • Celebrating Fall with Thanksgiving and Praise

Archives

  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Give
Give via Check in the U.S.

 

Make check out to:
 Faith and Learning International

IMPORTANT, please write:
LIFESPRINGS GENERAL FUND in the MEMO line

Mail to:
Faith and Learning International
PO Box 480
Wheaton, IL 60187-0480

To give by bank transfer in Euros:

 

IBAN: FR76 1009 6180 4100 0576 2590 144
Account: 00057625901
Bank: CIC FERNEY VOLTAIRE 10096
BIC: CMCIFRPP

Association name: Lifesprings France
Bank: CIC FERNEY VOLTAIRE
Address: 1 Avenue Voltaire
01210 Ferney Voltaire, FRANCE

Phone: +33 8 20 30 05 83