Praying Ahead

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” Mark 1:3 KJV

This verse quotes John the Baptist, who is calling the unrepentant ones to get ready for the Lord – to make the way for Him to do His will. I’ve always thought of it in terms of just checking our heart condition, but I believe it involves so much more, as well. The Lord has told us in His Word about the times we live in and about the things to come, so let’s consider this verse again. We are told to prepare the way of the Lord and make His paths straight. Could this also refer to the things to come?

A couple of years ago, in preparation for a conference we would be attending, a friend and I met to pray each week for a month prior to the conference. We both received much spiritually from that conference, and believe that the results were greatly enhanced by our prayer. While we make physical preparations for attending that conference again this fall, we have also begun to make the spiritual preparations, by praying ahead. We find that the Lord is leading us to pray with a much broader perspective than before – for speakers, other participants, families at home, etc. We both have a sense of expectation about the worldwide impact the Lord will make because of this conference, and because we (and others) are praying ahead.

When the weather forecasters began their dire predictions about this year’s hurricane season, the Holy Spirit reminded me that I didn’t need to wait until the storms started forming to begin praying about these storms and speaking with His authority concerning them. How simple He makes it! I haven’t spent hours in prayer over this, but have lifted it up to the Lord several times already, and will continue to do so as He brings it before me.

During the intensified prayer last fall concerning the election, I was convicted that we need to begin praying now (ahead) for the Lord to raise up men and women who seek and follow Him, who will not compromise, and who will lead this nation in God’s ways. We need not wait until the year of the election to pray this way. Who runs for office, and who gets elected – at all levels and positions – is about much more than the economy or other political issues. The real issue is that the Lord’s paths are made straight, that He is allowed to accomplish His plans and purposes in this nation and, through us, around the world. “Thy kingdom come and Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 But it all starts with our prayer, which needs to start now, not later.

Needless to say, the list of things about which we can pray ahead is endless. We so often get caught up in our day to day lives, and the immediate prayer needs, that we lose sight of the bigger picture. Most likely, we spend lots of time talking about many of these future issues, and even worrying about them. How much more effective it is when we pray ahead, preparing the way of the Lord and making His paths straight!

© Copyright 2005 Kay V. Stocking