We love taking trips throughout the year. While my family usually only starts thinking about the trip a week before we leave (when I remind them to start packing), I, however, have been planning and preparing for weeks or even months. I have made all the reservations, researched our destination, and created packing lists so we’re ready for almost anything. I make sure they know what to bring: warm clothes for cooler weather or backpacks and water bottles if we’re going on a hike. Even though unexpected things may still come up, I do my best to prepare us well. I do it because I love them and want them to enjoy the trip, feel relaxed, and be fully present together as a family.
In the same way, Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus. In today’s Scripture reading, we see that God had gone to great lengths to prepare His people for the one true Savior. In Isaiah 40:1–5, we read that God saw the struggles His people had faced for generations. He knew their pain and suffering, and He promised that it wouldn’t last forever. He comforted them, spoke gently to them, and assured them that He would make a way. There would be a path to repentance and hope.
In the New Testament, Luke 1:5–25 shows us that God continues to be faithful and fulfill His promises. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and told him that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a child despite their old age. This child, who we know would be John the Baptist, would go before Jesus and help prepare the hearts of the people so they would be ready to worship the one true God. John would be filled with the Holy Spirit from the day of his birth. He would be a great sign for the Lord going before Him and turning the hearts of the people towards God.
Gabriel’s message was hard for Zechariah to believe. Instead of trusting what the angel said, he questioned it—struggling to have faith in God’s plan. As a result, Gabriel told him he would be unable to speak until the child was born. It’s a powerful reminder that God can always be trusted, even when His plan doesn’t make sense to us.
These scriptures remind us, especially during Advent, of God’s faithfulness in preparing a way for His people to worship Him as the one true God. He had not forgotten. Instead, He was making a way for them to be in relationship with Him again, through hope in His Savior. Advent invites us to remember that we can trust God completely—He always knows what we need, and His timing is always perfect.
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105 thoughts on "The Promised Messenger"
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We can trust in Him even (especially) when we can’t understand. His timing is perfect❤️
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Amen and what a wonderful reminder!
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I don’t know if this is a helpful reflection, but what struck me when reading Isaiah 40 v1-5 is the peace that is brought to the landscape and how this reflects the peace that Jesus brings to our lives, whatever season we are in (whether low in the valleys, or anxious and on edge like a spiky mountain!). His peace is part of His glory. Oh Lord, may I grab hold of this truth that you tell me and may I not let go! Thank you for the way you run after me despite my unfaithfulness. Lord Jesus, shine in the valleys and raise them up, calm every anxious thoughts, in your Mighty name, Amen!
Thank you for the way you saw Elizabeth and how you took away her shame – you had a greater plan as well, but thank you for how your greater plan was also good for her as an individual. You care about the big picture and our very hearts.
Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous, without blame, and they still faced infertility – not because they were being punished, but because it wasn’t in God’s timing yet. And once it was God’s timing, they were blessed with more than they ever asked for. A sweet reminder that there is purpose in the waiting and nothing is wasted or impossible with God.
trust in the Lord’s timing because it is always perfect!
Merry Christmas to all of you dear ladies. As we are reading about the miraculous birth of John the Baptist I wanted to share our miracle with you.
our daughter has been battling some major health issues for several years. She has seen countless doctors and been referred to numerous specialists.
Finally, she was sent to a neurologist at UNC in Chapel Hill, NC. Tuesday she surgery on her brain for a malformation. Today she was released from the hospital and sent home!Two days after surgery and she’s walking and talking and home again! This is truly a miracle. We were almost to the point of giving up and at her lowest point God said I’ve got you! And ladies let me tell you He did!!! When you can’t hold on any longer, just hold on because Jesus is on His way. When you can’t hold on He’s there to carry you! Never lose in in Jesus; He keeps EVERY promise! Praise and glory to Christ our king!
Praise God!! He is so good.❤️
Amen!! Wow what joyful, amazing news!
thank you, Lord for hearing our Sister, for seeing her need, for You being the answer. please keep her, hold her daughter and bring total healing we ask you, Father in Jesus’s Name
It is so easy to get caught up in our own timelines for ourselves. I related to this devotion deeply, as I am learning to trust God’s timing of my life versus my own. I pray every day for my own family to be part of my future. ♥️
It was always the plan to prepare a way and its always in His plans that His timing is perfect. Thank you Lord, prepare my heart.❤️
Me too, LORD, prepare me to receive You.
Amen
Even when we are most exhausted the Lords promise holds
I loved the analogy used in today’s message. As a mom it resonates with all the planning we do. The end of the message gave me pause and hope as I know God has a plan for each of us and just like it’s so hard for children to wait for Xmas morning, His timing can be hard to be patient with. I am open Lord and so excited and ready as your plans for me unfold regardless of long I have to wait. For I know the wait is worth it.
Amen! Beautiful- thank you for sharing! And thank you for pointing to the fact that we can be excited in our waiting for God’s plans in our own lives
Thank you for your promises and how your timing is perfect even if it doesn’t make sense.
I appreciated how LAUREN explained the roles of those who prepared the way. Preparation, whether for a journey or for something sacred, is not simple, it is intentional and detailed. Planning a trip for a family requires careful consideration of everyone’s needs. Spiritual preparation requires an even deeper level of attentiveness. This raises the question: How do we prepare our homes for Christmas, and our hearts for Christ? These are two complementary forms of preparation, each reinforcing the other. In preparing the home, I am drawn to simplicity, cleansing and decluttering common spaces to create room and calm, letting go of unused items to give away, and intentionally preparing for hospitality. All of this is about making room. Preparing the heart for Christ follows a similar principle. Scripture reminds us, “There was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7). The question then becomes: How do we make room in our hearts for Him? John the Baptist offers a clear example, preparation through repentance, the clearing of the road, the confronting of obstacles, and the turning of hearts back to God. At times, God interrupts our routines with a calling, requiring adjustments so that we may align ourselves with His purposes. Watch for those. In every instance, preparation takes steps and stages, and requires surrender and trust. This season, God placed it on my heart to reach out to a few hurting mothers and children in my neighborhood. By what I believe was divine appointment, I met them over this past summer. It was so effortless. I asked a few simple questions, and they opened their hearts as though a floodgate had been released (they had no one to listen and it was as if I was their best friend). In those moments, all I could do was listen and pray quietly. NOW, however, I sense that it is time to act. I have been frequenting Goodwill to find small gifts like toys, books, items like Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul, Christmas village ( I also collect these myself lol), to deliver this Christmas as a surprise. The Lord is so sweet. His heart is pure and His love never ends. When He placed this intention in my heart, I could just sob and tell Him, “aren’t You so wonderful Lord”. Isn’t He just so perfect above all the wonders this world has ever known. The Heart of God- the most beautiful heart I have ever known. The message is simple, someone cares. He cares. Let us care. Ultimately, it is the Him – the Living God from above who first loved us and prompt us to love. Reach out. Just the simple acts. Simple obedience. “Love one another as I have loved you”. All praise and glory be to God. Be blessed dear sisters.
What a beautiful blessing you are! ❤
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Thank you for sharing Mercy. I love your heart for the Lord and people. Blessings to you. ❤️
Absolutely beautiful Mercy.
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The Heart of God- the most beautiful heart I have ever known. The message is simple, someone cares. He cares. Let us care.
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Amen, Amen! THIS is Christmas.
What kindness❤️
This is beautiful and purposeful. Thank you, Mercy. Merry Christmas!
Joy to the World
“Let every heart prepare Him room…”
Seek the quiet.
Believe in the Promise.
Clear away sinful clutter.
Make emotional space for His presence.
Give your heart over to gladness.
Look towards His arrival.
Receive His kingship.
Hear the angel voices.
“And heaven & nature sing”.
Love this, Gwineth! ❤
Amen – joy indeed. Nature sings to the Lord.
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My grandmother is doing better than expected post procedure.
Praise God. Continued prayers for her ❤️
Oh, praise God! Thanks so much, Caroline, for the update! Phew!!!
I pray there are lots of helpers for your family Christmas gathering and that all of you share your special memories and learn your grandma’s recipes so you can help her! ❤
Amen! One great song I want to share that goes with this devo is “morning my morning” by pat barret
John MacArthur Study Bible-
“Prepare the way. The remnant of Israel could remove obstacles from the coming Messiah’s path through repentance from their sins. John the Baptist reminded his listeners of this necessity (Matt. 3:2), as did Jesus (Matt. 4:17; Mark 1:15
Mark 1:15 NLT
“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent…
). These verses reflect the custom of some eastern monarchs to send heralds before them to clear away obstacles, make causeways, straighten crooked roads and valleys, and level hills (cf. 45:1, 2). John had the task of getting people ready for Messiah’s arrival.”
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NKJV STUDY BIBLE NOTE:
By this voice [John] “calling from the desert, the people of Judah are called to make the crooked . . . straight and the rough places plain in preparation for the coming of the Messiah.”
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Likewise, we are charged with preparing our hearts for His coming … our celebration of His birth and His promised return. Our pastor has been sending texts each day reminding us to prepare our hearts to properly worship Him.
How do we prepare our hearts?
• acknowledge His sovereignty
• trust in Him and His Word
• meditate on His Word
• express sincere gratitude for His gifts
• repent – clearing away any obstruction in the path between our hearts and Jesus
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Father, help us in the midst of our busyness this season to recognize any obstacles inhibiting true worship.
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As the line in In the Bleak Midwinter says,
” What can I give Him? Give my heart.”
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Love, hugs,and prayers! ❤
I also meant to say that the Isaiah passage reminds me of a card that we might send a friend- offering comfort, encouraging words, and reminders that God is in control.
Oh my goodness. I did not read comments thoroughly yet and you also mentioned “heart preparation”. So many good points. We only overlapped on repentance lol. I love it when the Lord impressed the same thing but different perspectives and focuses on us. We see in parts, hear in parts, and when we reflect on what other shares, its a bigger perspective. Thank you CEE GEE ❤️.
Absolute AMEN, Mercy! That’s one kf tbe best benefits of ‘discussion’ and one of the ways, I believe, that He knits us together. Thank you, MERCY! ❤
Always for our good and His glory!!
Zechariah and Elizabeth were old, very old! They had most likely prayed for years and years during their child bearing years for a son. But now the time has passed, their had been no child and they most likely had given up any hope of ever being parents…But God! He had a plan all along, and at His appointed time, He sent word to this very old couple – that they would have a son.
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Enduring Word has a very detailed description of what it was like for a priest to serve in the temple at the time of Zechariah’s ministry. It also makes these comments…
“Sometimes we pray for something for a long, long time. We pray for the salvation of a spouse or a child. We pray for a calling or a ministry. We pray that God would bring that special person to us. But after years of heartfelt prayer, we give up out of discouragement. Zacharias and Elizabeth probably prayed years of passionate prayer for a son, but gave up a long time ago, and stopped believing God for so much anymore.”
“When we are in that place, we sometimes begin – in the smallest of ways – to doubt the love and care of God for us. But God always loves, and His care never stops.”
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I don’t want this to be me. I don’t want to give up praying for my two sons and other family members to come to Jesus. I don’t want to doubt. I don’t want to stop believing that God can do this.
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I know God hears. I know He is able. I just have to keep trusting and believing that He makes all things beautiful in His time.
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Happy Thursday She’s. Be blessed today. ❤️
Amen! ❤
His timing is perfect. At times, that is hard to understand. Yet…I know it to be true.
Luke 1:25 – I hope that sentence reaches all hearts that need to hear it today. Elizabeth’s reproach was never from God, but from people, and she regards God without self-boadsting.
Oh, Lauren Eve, I needed the last line of your devotional today. “ He always knows what we need, and His timing is always perfect.”
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How often we (I!) forget!
Yes – I too need to be reminded of this daily!
Love all the comments! You bless me!
As some have pointed out, Comfort, comfort my people says God!
Help me to bring the Good News to those I encounter today!
Praying for all!
Gods Timing is always perfect ❤️
Good morning and Happy Thursday sweeties! I mistakenly read Day 19 on Day 16. So from the devo this morning. God can always be trusted! I TRUST my Jesus, sometimes I wake up thinking of what’s ahead, take a deep breath and keep trusting MY Jesus! HE knows what I need and I trust His timing as we read this devo His timing is ALWAYS perfect.
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The title of this reading was the promised messenger, and we see that John the Baptist was the promised messenger for Jesus‘s first coming. He was full of the Holy Spirit and power. He prepared people’s hearts to know Jesus as the coming Messiah.Who are the messengers for Jesus‘s second coming? I believe it’s God‘s children, Christians! I’m asking myself today. Am I filled with the Holy Spirit and power and preparing people’s hearts that they will accept Jesus as Lord and Savior? I’m praying today for God to make us messengers, filled with the Holy Spirit and power to proclaim Jesus is coming again as King, Lord and Ruler. Letting people know God loves them and Jesus is the way to the Father and eternal life, that is full of grace and mercy through the work of Jesus on the cross, all for God’s glory
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Some musings and observations this morning:
The angel appeared to Zechariah in a very holy and divine place. It was a holy place, for a holy purpose: a holy announcement. Incense was being offered up, and the angel of the Lord appeared at the incense altar.
I ponder why didn’t God just appear to him somewhere else? It was on this special day and at this special place all chosen by God.
Jesus was born in a holy place- Eretz Israel- a holy place consecrated to G-d.
Elizabeth and Zechariah were the new “Abraham and Sarah” of the New Testament.
“Both were righteous in God’s sight…” Luke 1:8. How do we look to G-d? (We look righteous if we are covered in the blood of Jesus). This is what really matters; how we look to God.
Abraham and Zechariah were righteous men but struggled when G-d promised to make them fathers. Do we as Christians struggle to believe “the Son of Mary” is coming again? I believe this was some personal “good news” for Zechariah and Elizabeth. Their baby was going to prepare the way for the Messiah. G-d even named him before conception! This was real (coming of the Messiah) and Israel was not ready for it!
Their story is a story of God sponsored infertility.
God is so intentional about everything!
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He knows what we need & His timing is perfect. Amen
The devotional says that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit from the day of his birth. But we know the prophecy in Isaiah says that he will be filled by the Holy Spirit while still in the womb, and later we will read how he leapt in his mother’s womb when Mary visited Elizabeth before either child was born. I love how the Bible is perfectly accurate and true! It’s amazing to be able to know and serve such an incredible God!
Yes!
I always like to dig deeper into things in scripture, aside from the message, that’s stand out to me, because when the Bible highlight, something is for a reason. And today, what’s stood out to me was that the angel Gabriel was standing to the right of the incense altar. Never noticed that fact before. This is what the commentary says:
“The angel Gabriel appearing on the right side of the altar of incense to Zechariah (Luke 1:11) is highly significant, symbolizing divine favor, authority, and the convergence of prayer and God’s immediate response, as the right side was the place of honor and power, near the Holy of Holies, signifying the message came directly from God’s presence.”
Thank you for sharing that Maria!
Interesting insights! Thanks!
Thank you for looking up the significance of that and I hadn’t noticed it either.
That jumped out at me today too, Maria! Thank you for digging deeper for me. ❤️
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Great share! ❤
“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” — Mark 9:24
Yesterday I was bemoaning all the preparation for next week, even though I truly love it, it’s a lot of baking and cooking! BUT the preparation is time
spent with my Mom, she always helps me bake. It is a sweet time
Ada, I too am getting overwhelmed. Up early this morning seeking peace. God is in the details
So sweet! Many hands make the work lighter.
Everything that the Lord describes is exactly how He says it and nothing like we imagine. I imagine John the Baptist as being this cool, charismatic leader, easy to follow with the description of what he was to do. In reality, most of us today would look at his physical appearance and diet and think he’s psychotic. The Lord looks at the heart. Amen!
My son comes home for a few days before Christmas sisters. Could you pray that there is unity between my son and my son-in-law thank you so much blessings and love.
I know this dynamic. Praying for peace and renewed relationships.
oh how well I know these dynamics! praying for the peace and love of Christ to fill your home.
Praying for their relationship.
Isaiah 40:3-5
Prepare the way, prepare each heart. Lord, please draw each one to you … the lost of every kind.
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Zach Williams, Jesus Loves –
All the renegades, the rebels, and the runaways
All the prodigals who got a little lost along the way
And all the backsliders, up-all-nighters, down in a rut
These are the ones
The ones that Jesus loves
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So come on in, the door is open
And the Savior’s arms are too
The table’s set, a seat is waiting
And He saved it just for you
So no more running, no more hiding
Come on in and you will find
You don’t have to be enough
To be someone Jesus loves.
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MARY – praying for Harry, for an open heart and mind and that the Lord will guide you planting seeds and sharing His Truth.
CASSIDY EMERSON – praising for that step of attending a service together, praying for guidance in this relationship
UCOBB – … in the waiting, He is with us. Amen.
MARGARET W – joining you in prayer for your children
TRACI GENDRON ❤️❤️
MIA FAITH ❤️ praying with you in the waiting
MICHELLE P ❤️ Amen, waiting and growing while God is working.
WENDY B ❤️
SHAWNA MORRIS – praying in the waiting ❤️
CEE GEE ❤️ yes, I gave an update when replying to Kelly yesterday. She’s improved enough to be released from the hospital, praise the Lord!
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Praying for the requests! Thank you for the song!!
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Great news! Sorry I didn’t get through all the comments- out shopping most of the day! Thanks for re-sharing!
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Great song- haven’t heard it in a while. ❤
Amen❤️
“Comfort, comfort my people”
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O Lord, Your people whose very lives or livelihoods are at risk because they are Christians need Your comfort today. Fill them with Your peace. Help them to be strong and courageous as they serve You in the midst of persecution.
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CASSIDY EMERSON – praying your relationship with God deepens.
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MARY – praying for opportunities for you to clearly explain the gospel to your friend. Praying God gives you wisdom about the relationship too.
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SHAWNA MORRIS – praying for healing for your husband.
This same verse stood out to me! Praying for all!
That verse was the focus of my reading today, too.
Amen to your lrayet! ❤
*prayer*
Thank you Lord that Your timing is always perfect!
Amen! ❤️
His timing is perfect!
Praise the Lord!♥️
Amen ❤️
What stood out to me this morning as I read Isaiah’s description of the environment that needed preparing is it’s a lot like our current culture. Lots of crooked, rough places with many obstacles to overcome as we share the Good News.
Father, help us share the news that the path to Your mercy and grace is straight – straight into the arms of Jesus! Repentance of our sin will remove the obstacles that stand in our way to Your forgiveness. Thank You for preparing our way!
Amen.
Amen ❤️✝️
The Isaiah verses.. “had me at..
Comfort, Comfort, my people..
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The rest just took me to a place of freedom, grace, hope and promise.
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Speak tenderly to Jerusalem (Tina, Searching,Traci, Kelly, Amanda, Raechel, Sharon, Lynne, Cee Gee, Michelle, Helen, A.Walton, Tami, Sue, Rhonda, Lauren, Mercy, Mari, Adrienne, Cheryl, Wendy, Kimberly, Martha, etc, etc, etc…)
That her time of hard service is over, her sin has been pardoned..
That, in itself is awesome , Right?
But the next.. took my heart to a new height, and my breathe away..
..And she/we/all have received from the LORDS hand, DOUBLE(pardon) for all our sins.
Oh, dear, dear sisters, Let us indeed cry out as we prepare the way for the LORD in our wilderness..
Make straight the highway to our hearts, in our desert for the LORD, for in making way, He will lift every valley we find ourselves in, and He will smooth our path.
It is in doing so thst we can see the Glory of the LORD, as it appears AND we WILL see it, because we made a way in our hearts for the promise-filled message from the LORD.
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Come, LORD JESUS, Come.
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AMEN..
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Prayerful your day, dear hearts, is Merry and bright and totally covered in His love and great expectation..
love you..❤️
Amen, amen, amen! ❤️
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Beautiful, Tina!
Me too. (Jerusalem’s pardon really got my attention this morning.) What a great God we have! ❤️
Thank you Tina!
So thankful for you, Jesus! Thank you, Lord, for your provision, goodness, and grace❤️
Thank you my sweet friend. ❤️
Double pardon. Thank you TINA for zooming into this detail and personalizing it. How powerful. Hugs and love to you precious TINA ❤️.
Tina, this is so beautifully stated- from your beautiful heart! I wish I had read it before posting my comments! ❤❤❤
Amen, beautiful Tina, thank you!
Thank you Tina! He has promised to make every crooked place
straight and every rough place smooth!I look forward with
expectation to the fulfillment of His promises!