Luke 3

Scripture Focus:
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth;
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
— Luke 3:4–6 (NRSVUE)

Reflection

The story shifts from the manger to the wilderness.
From angel songs to a prophet’s cry.

John the Baptist steps onto the scene with a message that echoes through the wilderness and through time itself: Prepare the way of the Lord. His call is not gentle—it’s urgent. It’s about clearing the clutter, turning back to God, and making space for grace to move freely again.

John reminds us that preparation isn’t just about getting our lives in order—it’s about getting our hearts ready. Advent invites this same kind of preparation. In a season filled with lists and deadlines, John’s cry cuts through the noise: Make room. Turn around. The Lord is near.

It’s not always comfortable to face the rough edges of our hearts. But this is where Advent does its best work—leveling what’s proud, lifting what’s broken, smoothing what’s rough. So that when Christ comes, He finds a road straight to our hearts.

Prayer

God of the wilderness and the Word,
You call us to prepare the way for Your coming.
Where our hearts have grown cluttered with distraction,
clear the path.
Where pride has built mountains,
make us humble.
Where fear has dug valleys,
lift us up.
Make straight the ways within us,
so that we might welcome You with joy when You come.
Amen.

Practice

Find a few quiet minutes today to pause and reflect.
Light a candle or sit by a window.
Ask yourself: What needs clearing away so there’s room for Christ to come close?
It might be a habit, a hurry, a hurt, or a fear.
Name it before God, and imagine it being smoothed away—
making space for peace, hope, and new beginnings.

Then, as a simple act of preparation, do something today that creates space for someone else: offer a listening ear, forgive a debt, or speak a word of encouragement.