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. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” - Isaiah 40:3-5.  This prophecy in Isaiah spoke of the eventual coming of God stepping into humanity. In the coming month, we prepare to celebrate the culmination of those prophecies in the Incarnation of our Lord, Immanuel, God with us.

By going through this Advent season, we’ll be preparing our hearts for what Jesus will say to us and do through us. Christmas can be a very busy time of the year, and the meaning in the celebration can get lost. Yet, if Jesus stays at the center of our focus, it doesn’t matter how many or few Christmases we’ve celebrated, or how old or young we may be, the wonder of this season will never fade.  We will renew our spirits as we join together to sing the carols and read the Scriptures that foretell His coming and the excitement we experience as we re-live that precious “Silent Night, Holy Night” that changed the world forever.

Reflection Questions:  What do you need to do to prepare your heart for Jesus? What are the mountains in your life that need to be made low? What rough grounds need to be made level?