Here is a blog I wrote for XP Missions I thought I would share with you in this beautiful season:
http://www.xpmissions.com/make-straight-paths/
Every Christmas God gives me a word, a scripture or a
specific focus for the season. This year,
I feel He has put my thoughts on John the Baptist and given me the following
scripture in Luke 3:4 as my focus, “A
voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight
paths for Him. Every valley shall be
filled in, every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.”

I’m sure there are
many ways to unpack this scripture but the part of this verse that is really striking me is, “Make straight paths for Him.” What a new and interesting thought for
me. I often pray Psalm 18:36, that God
will make a broad/straight path for me to walk on, but here in Luke 3 the
tables are turned and John the Baptist is quoting Isaiah in declaring a
preparation for Jesus and straight paths to be made for HIM. High places brought down, valleys filled and crooked
places made straight and THEN mankind will see God’s salvation. When I think of my own life and making a
straight path for Jesus to walk on, I think of “alignment”. The
Passion Translations states, “Every
twisted thing in your lives must be made straight. Every dark way must be brought to the light.
Wrongs righted. Injustices removed. Every heart of pride will be humbled low
before him. Every deception will be exposed and replaced by the truth so that
everyone everywhere will be ready to see the Life of God!”
Seems like, John the Baptist, is defining what “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at
hand” means (Matthew 3:2). Repent,
align, consecrate, and straighten the path for Jesus to walk in, for Jesus to
shine His Light, for Jesus to be lifted up and glorified. Make a straight path for Jesus, God’s
salvation (His saving, healing, deliverance, wealth, truth, etc.) to be
released on all mankind.
This Christmas, I invite all of us to open ourselves up to
Holy Spirit and ask Him if there is any place in our lives that we need to
align/re-align or make straight so that Jesus, the Savior of the World, can
walk into our lives, communities, missions, and world and release His salvation
through us and around us.