Morning by Morning, December 9 - “A People Prepared for the Lord” Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be high and lifted up, glorified and magnified, in my heart and every moment of my day (John 12:32). ... “He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17). Before the coming of Christ, came the one who was “filled with the Holy Spirit” to be a voice of one crying out in the wilderness, preparing the way of the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah (v. 16). He was making ready “a people prepared for the Lord.” What does it mean to be “a people prepared for the Lord?” ... As I listen and wait this morning, what comes to my heart is part of the prophecy of John’s father, Zacharias, when Zacharias was “filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied” over his newborn son, declaring his calling: “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:76-79). To be prepared for the Lord, to be made ready for His coming, is to have knowledge of salvation, to receive the remission of sin by the tender mercy of God, to embrace the light of the glory of God who leads us out of darkness and death into the way of peace. Come, Holy Spirit. Just as You came though the prophecy of Zacharias and through the ministry of John to prepare the way of the Lord, to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord,” come prepare my heart. The knowledge of salvation is knowing You are my Salvation, Lord Jesus. Not by my works, not be trying to be good enough, not by trying to be a good person who does good things and lives a good life. But by faith alone, by faith in You alone. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace (we) have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace (we) have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:4-10). “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved’” (Romans 10:8-13). In this season of preparation, in anticipation and expectant faith to celebrate the birth of Christ, I turn to You and to You alone for my salvation, Lord Jesus. I confess with my mouth You are Lord and believe in my heart that God the Father raised You from the dead as God the Son by the resurrection power of God the Holy Spirit. I make room in my heart for You and Your Spirit to make me alive together with Christ by Your mercy and grace for me. This is the gift of the children of God, available to all who answer the call to be made ready for Your coming -- “a people prepared for the Lord.” “And because (we) are (children of God), God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into (our) hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ Therefore (we) are no longer a slave but a (child), and if a (child), then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:6-7). Abba, Father! Lord Jesus! Holy Spirit of God! I’m ready for You. I prepare a place for You in my heart, because You’ve prepared a place for me in Yours. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, may you be one of the "people prepared for the Lord" in heart this day and every moment for His coming, in Jesus' name. God bless you!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries Mailing Address: 412 S. Adams Street #148 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Please share this word to encourage a friend! Anyone can sign up for free at: https://messiah-ministries.org | 
