04/09/2019
Is there an open road between you and God, or must you traverse the wilderness each time you want to visit, or speak with Him? When we become a frequent visitor somewhere, we look to make a straight road to our destination, and pave it with smooth stones. This is what incessant prayer does for us... it takes a rugged and wild way, and builds a road through that wilderness of sin; it makes our traveling towards God, and His return visits to us smooth and easy.
“A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And 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 ESV
This scripture is so important that it is quoted in each of the four gospels, and every time it calls out the prophet Isaiah by name. An interesting point to remember here is that despite our belief that in prayer we are traveling to God, this scripture tells us specifically that we are making a way for God to come to us “prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” So when you kneel in your prayer closet, or bow your head in your prayer chair, and lift up your fragrant prayers, which way do you believe they are traveling? Do you think that you are coming before God with your needs, or allowing Him, who knows your every need, to come to you with His responses? Let’s read each gospel and pay attention to this revelation...
“For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'"”
Matthew 3:3 ESV
“As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'"”
Mark 1:2-3 ESV
“As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
Luke 3:4 ESV
And finally John is asked who he is:
“He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."”
John 1:23 ESV
I once read about an extensive new addition that was made to a college campus. When the new section was opened for use by the students there was something that was missing... someone had forgotten to build sidewalks between the buildings. In fact there were no paved walkways anywhere. This looked like an oversight, but it wasn’t... in a few weeks the students had worn paths and cross paths into the lawn, and when they went home for their next break the construction crews returned and placed concrete sidewalks where each of the dirt trails had been worn. From that time forward there were never any dirt trails leading to areas that otherwise the engineers mightn’t have originally considered. Instead of attempting to direct the students with sidewalks, they allowed the students to direct the placement of the pathways.
Isn’t this what we should be doing in prayer? Shouldn’t we be watching the will of God wear a trail in our lives, and then make those ways smooth? It is interesting but the students took the most direct paths between buildings and made them their favorites; they did not twist and wind, or make ninety degree corners... they walked straight lines. God wants to come directly to us too. Our scripture and quotes today repeat this truth over and over again... “make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Our prayers should not only make a way for God, but make that path straight so that His will walks directly to us. How often do we want God’s will to conform to our twisted and winding wills and life?
“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”
Proverbs 4:25-27 ESV
You have undoubtedly heard the expression which encourages us to “walk the straight and narrow!” Well, that isn’t a random quote, or some intelligent saying of man... it is biblical wisdom. The best way to meet God half way is to walk directly towards Him, and surprise of all surprises... He is walking a straight path towards you too. If we are weaving and traveling this way and that then we are not within the will of God for our lives, and are being led astray by Satan. The way of faith is not twisted, but smooth and straight. Listen to the words of Paul...
“But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?”
Acts 13:9-10 ESV
So our prayers create a path through the wilderness, and it will be a straight and smooth way; designed for our God to travel easily to us. Our prayers go up like vapor, but He comes to us boldly and directly in power and grace. So I ask how it is with you today. Do your prayers make a straight way for the Lord? Have you worn down a smooth trail with them? Are you living on a street known to God and Jesus as straight street?
“And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight."”
Acts 9:11-12 ESV
God comes to us straightway with the answers to our prayers... how is the way that we have constructed for Him with our frequent prayers?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who leads us in prayer, and teaches us to make a way for you to come to us by it. Thank you for your will and plan for us that never varies, but is straight, even if it is narrow at times. Help us Holy Father to wear smooth a road through the wilderness of this sinful world, never turning this way or that, but always traveling straight. As we pray without ceasing it is our desire that you find us easily, and answer our prayers directly. Even as our knees become calloused before you, and the incense of our prayers fill the air of heaven with a pleasing and perfumed aroma it is our desire that you come swiftly to us like lightning, and gently speak to us in the soft voice of love and mercy upon your arrival. This is your road Heavenly Father, and although we walk with you on it, it bears your name, and though built by our prayers it is for your pleasure, and to accommodate your will. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who leads us straightway across every wilderness, and directly through the valley of the shadow of death. We praise you for coming to us down the road of your will with the answer to our faithful prayers. For your glory we make smooth the way, and sing out songs of joy upon your arrival. Great are you, and greatly to be praised.
“Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.”
Hebrews 12:12-13 ESV
Rich Forbes