"The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
As I start to type, I'm concerned my thoughts are either very egocentric or possibly they do bring glory to God. I hope they bring glory to God and hope to my few readers.
I'll start with my definition of the wilderness. A place I go to get away from it all: the busy-ness of life, the telephone, the dishes in the sink that beg "wash me!", the routine that binds me, my own unrealistic expectations. Sometimes I go to the wilderness of my own free will because I know it's good for me and I desire that; and sometimes I'm (as some versions translate in Matthew 4) that Jesus was driven by the spirit. Tonight I don't think it's as important how I get there but that I use my wilderness time to connect with The Holy One. For me, that means dying to self, dying to self-talk, letting go of expectations, just resting in God.... so much easier typed than done. I'm addicted to thinking and often over-thinking and re-thinking and pre-thinking and post-thinking (words to explain fear, hope and worry). So, meditating and contemplating on God - the nothingness packed full of Everything.... my all in all.
So what's the "preparing the way of the Lord" stuff? He made the earth, so it seems He can do whatever He wants without my approval or help. But the Bible reminding me to "prepare the way of the Lord" is a reminder I was designed to have free will. The choice I can make to prepare a place inside my life and schedule to "be still and know that I am God" (Psalms 46.10) is up to me.
Make his paths straight. It seems like in the desert and all that sand that it wouldn't be hard to walk straight paths. But when I'm in the mountains or beach (and I have both here), roads are crooked (designed prior to the Louisiana Purchase with one-mile grid organizing the landscape and roads). So there are crooked roads, narrow roads, hidden curves, hidden driveways, going up the hills, down the mountains, along the edge of the ocean, guard rails to stop from driving off cliffs into the ocean. Toto, I'm not in Kansas any more. I understand the geography of paths, valleys, mountains and rough ways. I could interpret that as terrain; but it's also the terrain of my mind and heart at times. Yet, it seems when I'm consistent in doing my part - going into the silence of the wilderness, ignoring the fear of going deeper within myself, and holding onto what I know of a loving God, then the valleys and mountains and crooked and rough even out. No more drama mama; few fears, minimal stress about the valleys and mountains of life, and I don't think I get crooked (grumpy) very often and life and relationships seem to go smoother. Not saying I don't have room for improvement - but it's easier to behave in line with the inner me, the Christ-in-me (Colosians 1.27) and I feel God is going to continue developing that in my life. When I realize at the depth of me is God; and I access that through silence and/or stillness, life just works better when I practice that discipline of quiet.
"And all flesh shall see the salvation of God." Of course, my knee jerk reaction is universal salvation; but need to study more to come to that conclusion. But hopefully those who have a relationship with me see God and/or salvation by the changes that occur as I mature. Or maybe I just serve as a bad example and warning to others. ;-)
Off topic: I've been thinking the right way for me to read my Bible is through the lens of John 3:16 and/or the Great Commandment. See it through eyes of Love. Since I've often heard God is a gentleman and won't shame, guilt or bully us; then His Word, would be the same: show us His love and not bully, shame or guilt us.I'm grateful to serve such a loving and wonderful Father God.
Shalom.
