Advent's Preparation Day 5

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What if comfort is not a cliché but a command that reshapes how we wait? We open Isaiah 40:1–5 and sit with words that ask us to speak tenderly, clear obstacles, and expect God’s glory to be seen by all. This short Advent reflection traces the thread from ancient prophecy to John the Baptist’s voice in the wilderness and on to the hope that centers our everyday lives.

I read alongside Ashton, a steady reader and history teacher, and together we let the text do its work: valleys filled, mountains lowered, curves straightened, rough places smoothed. We explore how “prepare the way” becomes real practice—repentance that restores, prayer that steadies, and small acts of love that turn waiting into watchfulness. The conversation keeps its focus on Jesus while making space for ordinary rhythms that renew the mind: a few minutes of quiet, a shared reading, and a decision to speak comfort into weary spaces.

You’ll also hear a preview of upcoming voices joining the readings, because Advent is better in community. If you need a reset, this reflection offers a grounded path: remember fulfilled prophecy, receive present comfort, and lean toward future hope. Take a breath, fix your eyes on Jesus, and consider who needs a word of comfort from you today.

If this encouraged you, follow the show, leave a review to help others find it, and share the link with a friend who could use some hope. Stay watchful, stay holy, and let’s keep our minds renewed together.

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The Intro/Outro music is Are You Ready? by Floodgate. From the Album, Are You Ready? copyright 2002 OffBeat Ministries, Inc.
Floodgate is available on Apple Music and iTunes.
Music used with permission.

Thank You. I Love You!

SEE YA!

Rick

Episode Transcript

unknown (00:52):
Are you ready to go?

SPEAKER_00 (00:56):
Hey, welcome to Renewed Mindsets.
I'm Rick, and I'm so glad you'rehere.
Now, this is something special.
For the next 25 days, we'regonna slow down, we're gonna
quiet our hearts, and we'regonna turn our eyes towards
Jesus as we walk through Adventtogether.
Now every day we'll take a fewminutes to breathe and reflect

(01:19):
and remember the hope that cameinto the world and the hope
that's coming again.
Hey, we're back for day five ofthe Advent readings.
Uh yesterday we foretold thebirthplace of the Messiah, and
today we're gonna talk aboutscripture where it's preparing

(01:42):
the way for the Lord.
And it's so neat how all thisprophecy from the Old Testament
was fulfilled with one person.
So, and that's what Adventreally is looking at the past
and looking at what happened,which ultimately affects our

(02:05):
future.
I've got Ashton back.

SPEAKER_01 (02:08):
Hey everybody.

SPEAKER_00 (02:10):
Hey, Ashton's gonna scoot a little closer to her
microphone.
Ashton is not a podcaster,Ashton is a history teacher with
a good reading voice.
I would have liked to have hadher read books to me when I was
a child.
Aw.
All right, we're in uh Isaiahchapter 40, verses 1 through 5
from the New Living Translation,and I will send it over to

(02:32):
Ashton.
Go ahead.

SPEAKER_01 (02:34):
Comfort for God's people.
Comfort, comfort my people, saysyour God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.
Tell her that her sad days aregone and that her sins are
pardoned.
Yes, the Lord has punished hertwice over for all her sins.
Listen, it's the voice ofsomeone shouting, Clear the way

(02:56):
through the wilderness for theLord, make a straight highway
through the wasteland for ourGod, fill in the valleys and
level the mountains and hills,straighten the curves and smooth
out the rough places.
Then the glory of the Lord willbe revealed, and all people will
see it together.
The Lord has spoken.

SPEAKER_00 (03:16):
That is so good.
Who's that voice in thewilderness?

SPEAKER_01 (03:20):
That'd be John the Baptist.

SPEAKER_00 (03:21):
Yeah, John the Baptist.
All right.
Well, you know what?
You know what tomorrow is?
It's day six.
Woohoo! So we'll be backtomorrow.
I think if I'm looking right atmy calendar, day six and day
seven are Saturday and Sunday.
I'm gonna get Lauren in on this.
She doesn't even know it yet.

(03:42):
So you'll hear Lauren for uhSaturday and Sunday.
And we'll get Lauren back maybefor the next weekend because we
gotta have Ashton for Monday.
Right?

SPEAKER_01 (03:56):
That's right.

SPEAKER_00 (03:57):
All right, see you tomorrow.

SPEAKER_01 (03:59):
Bye.

SPEAKER_00 (04:04):
All right, thanks for joining me today on Renewed
Mindsets.
As we walk through Advent, let'sstay expectant.
Let's stay watching, praying,and keeping our hearts ready for
the one who came and the onewho's coming again soon.
I love you.
Let's keep our minds renewed andour eyes on Jesus.

(04:26):
The executive producer ofRenewed Mindsets is Christy
McCurry.
That's all for today, but I'llbe back with more unfiltered
biblical truth and undeniableprophecy.
The time to wake up is now.
If today's episode challengedyou, don't keep it to yourself.
Tell someone, please.

(04:48):
Text them a link.
Share the truth while there'sstill time.
Visit renewedmindsets.com tostay connected and to listen to
past episodes.
And check out our merch atrenewedmindsets.store.
Jesus is coming soon.
Stay watchful.
Stay holy.

(05:09):
Stay renewed.
Until next week, I'm Rick.
Be an encourager, not adiscourager.
I love you.

(05:29):
See ya.
The intro and outro music forthe Renewed Mindsets podcast is
Are You Ready by Floodgate.
From the album Are You Ready?
Copyright 2002 OffbeatMinistries Incorporated.
Floodgate can be found on AppleMusic and iTunes.

(05:49):
Music used with permission.