Evening Prayer for Sunday, December 15, 2024
Praying the Scriptures
Sunday Evening Prayer
December 15, 2024
A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.” (Isaiah 40:3–4)
Heavenly Father,
As the day fades into evening and the soft glow of the desert sun dips behind the rugged mesas, I lift my heart to You. Here in the stillness of New Mexico, where the winds whisper through the arroyos and the stars begin to pierce the deep indigo sky, I am reminded of Your call:
“A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.’”
Lord, I hear that voice echo in my soul tonight. You call me to prepare not just the paths of this land but the pathways of my heart. I long to make space for You, to smooth out the roughness of my pride, and to level the unevenness of my doubts. As I walk through this Advent season, help me to clear away the distractions that obscure the joy of Your coming.
In this vast desert, I see Your promise come to life. Just as You shape the sands with the gentlest breeze, shape me, Lord. Fill the valleys of my sorrows with Your comfort. Bring low the mountains of my stubbornness. Let Your presence make every crooked part of my life straight.
Tonight, as the chill of the desert air settles in, I wrap myself in the warmth of Your grace. With each breath I draw, I anticipate Your coming more deeply. Let my heart, like the land around me, be a highway for Your love—a place where Your glory may dwell.
Thank You, Lord, for this holy season of preparation. Thank You for Your promises of renewal and restoration. May I walk in the assurance that Your way is always good, and Your path always leads to life.
In the name of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer and coming King, I pray.
Amen.
I hope this prayer brings you comfort and peace through the night.
The Bible passages come from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyrighted © 1989, 1993 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Praying the Scriptures is penned daily by Kenny Sallee, ThM.
