“A voice cries out: In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.....then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed....” Isaiah tells us in this passage of scripture that, if we are going to invite God to be with us, we need to prepare for that arrival. We must do like we would do for any guest that is invited to our home. We must make preparations, whether those preparations are to clean up, rearrange, prepare food, whatever we need to do ahead of the guest's arrival.
It is hard to begin a routine of regular formal prayer without some planning. As Isaiah suggests, we must forge a path in the wilderness of our hearts and minds that will allow God's presence to be with us. We have to ready ourselves mentally to be a destination for God's spirit. Then, when we invite that spirit in, the path is clear and easy. Access is unimpeded.
Have you ever walked along a beach on sand that was dry and hot? If you have, you will know that it is hard to keep your footing. The loose sand causes you to slip and slide as you walk. Now imagine that same journey on a boardwalk that runs along the same beach. Walking is much easier. Getting to our destination is quicker and more efficient. While I would never argue that God can not be with us unless we made these types of preparations, they are still important. God requires no preparation.They are important because they help US to focus on the event that is about to happen. The preparations are for us. We clean up our house to get ready for the visitor, and as a result our visit is enjoyable and beneficial.
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