Prepare
How prepared are we for Christmas? Not how tidy are our homes or how complete is our shopping, but how prepared are our hearts? How ready are we to accept the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
Dear Lord, heavenly God,
We are not worthy of your love, nor even to carry your sandals, and yet you know and care for each one of us. Ready our hearts to know and share your love. Prepare us to embrace your word, retold across the centuries, and to live in the way of the Lord.
Amen.
Matthew 3: 1-3, 11
1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.’”
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
