One thing begets another, as the old saying goes. Concentrate and eliminate! The duty ahead was to clear out the office. I was always “proud” that the door could be kept open to the office, but lately, it was better to shut the door. Piles had accumulated. Where do I put everything I needed, not only for the farm business but for the ministry God called me to?
Our society says more is better — Jesus says less is better when you put me first. Jesus challenges each of us to look beyond our earthly possessions and spend time preparing for eternity.
As humans, we are not the best at clearing the way for Jesus to come to us. Because of our busy schedules, we accumulate too much “stuff.” Our bond to the past makes us afraid to step into a new path. Even the good things we benefit from seem to grow rapidly out of hand, making us feel as though we are filling our lives with the best of choices when we are only just filling it. All the spaces filled up on our calendars can and will block access to what we need the most — the King of Kings coming to do work in our lives.
Isaiah 40:3-5 (NLT) ~ 3. Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! 4. Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. 5. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed.”
What if we chose to pay close attention to Isaiah’s words, especially this fall season? Lord, fill in our valleys. Valleys are the spaces where we feel insufficient or discontent. What if we filled those valleys in with His promises of help and declarations of our identity?
Lord, would You level those mountains? Perhaps you are like me when I proudly exclaim: “I will do this myself ! I don’t need anyone to help! I am quite efficient!” What if we spent some time leveling those attitudes, reminding ourselves that without Christ we can do nothing? Meditating on the truth that Christ’s strength gives us our strength? Do you remember, “Be still, and know that I am God?” ~Psalm 46:10.
Lord, would You straighten the curves our lives have created? Those places where we have turned aside and pursued what might be good, but not the best. What if we let this time of year remind us to look straight on towards goals, God’s plans for our life? Not to let bends or sharp turns in the road detour and reroute us?
Lord, would You please smooth out the rough places? We all know what these are. Those places where our own defiance has made our road a little rough. What if we took an honest inventory of ourselves, facing the fact that sometimes our own choices make following Jesus more difficult?
Let’s clear the way for Jesus to come and bring His kingdom into the world! Will you make a clear and straight path for His work in your life?