When I lived in the Chicago area it was said that there were only two seasons: winter and construction. The same is true of Minnesota. The summers are shorter here, so construction starts as soon as possible.
At least two weeks beforehand they put up signs stating the date the roadwork will begin. A week in advance of that date the barriers were dropped on the sides of the road awaiting placement. A few days before the scheduled start, they added more signs for speed limit changes and detours. On the start date everything was in place and we all understood the new course the road would take.
I don’t think I had ever thought about it before but this construction season I was kind of impressed by the preparation not only in how they planned it all but in how they prepared our minds to understand and be aware of the changes. I’m not sure about you, but I see this as an allegory for our prayer life. How?
“Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of My people.” Isaiah 57:14
(Another one of my favorite verses.) I have learned the importance of preparing the road in prayer. Prayer removes the obstacles in the spiritual realm. If I am working with a committee, prayer becomes especially important to aide in keeping us on track and of the same mind-set.
In one meeting I was in, no one agreed on how we should proceed with an issue. I suggested we stop to pray, and when the conversation continued, a recommendation was made that we all easily agreed upon. I have also been in meetings where God was not invited in and hours upon hours were spent trying to come to a consensus.
When I know I have places to go, I will often pray that if God creates an opportunity, I will be ready to share or pray with a person. (Those unexpected God appointments are always the best.)
It seems to me that when I don’t think to pray, those special appointments don’t happen. Though I’m sure the MN Department of Transportation did not intend to give us an example of Isaiah 57: 14… they totally did!
“Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of My people.” Isaiah 57:14