MY WAY, OR THE HIGH WAY: ISAIAH 40:3-5

As I journal this morning, Lord, I do so with a plethora of emotions. Gratefulness and complete awe for your undeserved grace—truly, we do not deserve Your mercy or Your grace, and yet You give it relentlessly. Thank You for your merciful grace day by day, and oh God, keep transforming me from the inside out. Only You, can make the darkness LIGHT. In You there are no shifting shadows. In You we live and move and find our being – we find who we really are, the WHO You created and intended us to be from before we were formed in our mother’s womb…only in You. May this be the moment-by-moment reality I walk in from this day forward.

This morning in prayer, a verse about making rugged ways smooth came to mind, and here is that passage, along with my personal thoughts.

Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness

In this wilderness, prepare your heart for the Lord and all He wants to do in and through you. IN the wilderness. Don’t wait for a more opportune time. Don’t wait until you ‘feel’ better. Today, make room in your heart for Jesus.

Make a straight highway for our God in the desert.

In these desert times, plow a straight path – straight. Bulldoze every obstacle right off this path and don’t deviate from it. Temptations will try to lure you away to some road that branches off, but don’t take the bait! Make this pathway fit for the King of kings…yes even, and especially, in this desert.

I am reminded of a song—Jesus, Just the Mention of Your Name. In it there is a phrase: “Flowers grow, the desert blooms again.” Lord, help me carve a pathway for You, only You, and help me to see, in my mind’s eye, before it happens, flowers blooming in the desert - IN the desert.

A shift takes place, one where my diligence is not the focus—now it is the work You do on my behalf when my heart’s desire is to walk with You. . .

Every valley shall be lifted up

In the valleys, You lift me up, Lord. You carry me. You are my burden-bearer. Oh God, support and sustain me as only You can do. Keep my eyes fixed on You and my heart tuned to Your promise that this valley will be lifted up. There is no ‘low’ too low for You, and You delight in raising Your children up.

Every mountain and hill made low

When mountains and hills weary me, where oxygen seems non-existent, You reduce those mountains and hills to gracious pastures where I can rest. Cause my heart to be humble in Your presence so I do not go back to climbing those mountains You never intended me to climb in the first place. Help me lie down in Your green pastures, lead me beside those quiet waters, restore my soul.

The uneven ground will become smooth

When the road beneath my feet causes my ankles to twist, as I look to You, my Savior and my God, smooth out the unevenness so I can move, steadfastly, only in Your paths of righteousness. You, Lord, are the one who raises me up when I feel so broken.

The rugged land will become a plain

Lord, it feels like rugged terrain sometimes, like now. But You, O God, level the playing field when I turn to You. In Your presence is fullness of joy and life forever more. Ah, I rest in Your fertile valley, Lord, and I graze on the mana of Your goodness and mercy.

And the glory of the LORD will be revealed

Lord, it is Your honor and glory and abundance, the riches of Your grace and mercy, the honor and dignity and reverence for You that is revealed as I keep my eyes fixed on You, the author and perfector of this race I am running. Keep my eyes FIXED on You. Open the eyes of my heart to see as Your glory is revealed.

And all humanity together will see it

Let my life be a living testimony of Your goodness, Your grace, Your mercy. Lord, I don’t deserve any of this, but You made a way by sending Jesus to save me from myself and from the enemy and from this world's treasureless traps. One day, every single thing will be made new. For now, I long for my life to be a living, breathing testimony of all You’ve done for me and in me. My flesh wants all the glory. My heart desires only Yours.

And this passage ends with the following…

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken

The mouth of the One True and Only God declares and commands all of this will come to pass as I keep bulldozing that highway for my King – the King of kings. Oh, Jesus, be the center of all I think, pray for, and do—one day at a time. In Your name. Amen. Amen.

smcs / 10-20-2026