Kyndel Kelly, GFC Carrollwood

You've probably heard this phrase before, "Prepare the way of the Lord". I, too, had heard it many times and imagined Palm Sunday with Jesus riding on a donkey while people cleared the way for him to come through. I now laugh at myself after going through Isaiah with my small group because while this was literal, I realize now that it has a much deeper meaning.

While I'm sure the Lord will continue to uncover this for me, I wanted to share a new revelation on this verse.

Isaiah 40:3-4 (NIV) reads:

"A voice of one calling: 'In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.’"

As I referred to a commentary it called these verses a "word picture". It talked about preparing the way for the Lord but in reference to our hearts. I asked myself what it looked like to prepare a way for Him inside. What valleys need to be lifted up? What mountain needs to be torn down? What rough places need to be smoothed? How can I embody the phrase, more of you, less of me? How can I make more room in my heart for Him?

My valley is when I go to a dark place, feeling as though I'm not enough. My mountain is the lies I'm believing about myself or even about God. My rough places are times when I burst out in anger rather than in love, kindness, and gentleness. He wants to lift me up. He wants to tear down the lies. He wants to mold me to be more like Him... If I let Him. If I surrender my heart to Him. If I lay down control.

Is he asking you to do the same?

I love Isaiah 66:1 (NIV)

It reads: "... Heaven is my throne, and the earth my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?"

Let's break this down a bit. Heaven = God's throne. This is where He sits because He has all authority. Earth = his footstool. We are under his feet. He is not stomping on us, BUT He does have dominion. We are under His command.

Where will we have Him rest on the inside of us? On the throne of our heart or will we try to be in control treating Him as the footstool? If we decide to let him reign on the throne, that's when the real work begins. That's when He builds up, tears down, and smooths like Isaiah 40 talks about.

My prayer is this: Be on the throne in our hearts, Lord! May we never forget that YOU alone reign supreme over all. We prepare the way for you by surrendering to you. We want to step into our calling and leave behind the things that no longer or maybe never did serve us. We serve you. You are worthy of everything. Reign in our hearts, Jesus.