Psalm Reading

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.

For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out
their hands to do wrong.

Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts!
But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
the Lord will lead away with evildoers!

Peace be upon Israel!

Ps. 125:1-5

Gospel Reading

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall become straight,
and the rough places shall become level ways,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

Luke 3:1-6

Devotional Prompts

• Rejoice in the Lord’s might and righteousness. Ask Him to show you how He surrounds your heart with protection and security.
• Begin thanking the Lord for His goodness over the past year in both the small things and the big things. Consider the areas of your life or circumstances in your town/city or country that are in need of miracles. In faith, pray that the goodness of the Lord would be made manifest as the miraculous unfolds.
• Still your heart before the Lord and ask Him to give you wisdom and revelation for the ways in which you can “prepare the way” for all that He has planned in the coming year.

Closing Prayer

All powerful God,

The magnitude of your might and majesty cannot be fathomed. In your righteousness, we have a sure foundation and perfect protection.

Stir our hearts by your goodness that we might heed the call to prepare the way for both your plans in the new year and the coming return of your Son. May we be ever ready to welcome him with burning love and faith.

Amen.