Scripture Reading:

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV)

“A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord… Every valley shall be raised up… and the glory of the Lord will be revealed…’” Isaiah 40:3–5 (NIV)

“Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah… has conquered…” Revelation 5:5 (ESV)

Devotional Thought:

Before Jesus ever entered the world wrapped in swaddling cloths, Heaven released a sound — a roar announcing that God’s promise was already set in motion.

Isaiah prophesied Christ’s birth 700 years before Bethlehem. Long before Mary heard Gabriel’s voice, long before shepherds heard angels sing, God had already declared the promise. Because every promise God releases begins with a sound. A stirring. A nudge. A Scripture that jumps off the page. A worship moment that awakens something in you. It’s Heaven clearing its throat.

In Genesis, God spoke before light appeared. In Ezekiel’s valley, a rattling sound came before the bones formed. Before Jesus came, Isaiah shouted, “Behold!” And the same God is still doing it in you.

Many times, we pray for a sign, but God gives us a sound. He whispers. He thunders. He roars — not to intimidate you but to prepare you. Because when God is about to fulfill a promise, He wakes up your faith first. Isaiah tells us how to respond: prepare the way.

Preparation is the evidence that you actually expect God to move. You fix what’s crooked. You clear what’s cluttered. You make room for what’s coming.

Just like a family prepares a nursery before the baby arrives — God invites you to prepare spiritually for what He has already promised. And then Revelation gives us the final picture — the Lion of Judah who roars when the promise is close. Lions roar to mark territory, announce presence, and signal dominance.

Spiritually, God’s roar declares: “The promise is near. The breakthrough is at the door. The enemy must step back.”

This Christmas season isn’t just a celebration — it’s a signal. Heaven is roaring over your life: Your family. Your future. Your calling. Your promise. Behold… the Promise is closer than you think.

Reflection Questions:

1. What “sound” has God been stirring in your heart lately — a Scripture, a moment, a prompting?
2. Where is God calling you to prepare the way? (Your habits, your home, your heart?)
3. Have you been waiting for a sign while ignoring the sound?
4. What promise from God have you stopped expecting — and what would it look like to believe again?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, Thank You that You are the God who speaks, who moves, who promises, and who keeps every word You’ve ever declared. Open my ears to Your sound. Help me recognise when You are stirring my spirit and awakening my expectation. Prepare my heart, level the rough places, and make room in me for everything You are bringing. Let Your roar shake off discouragement, ignite my faith, and remind me that Your promises are closer than they appear. I choose to behold You — the Promise-Maker and the Promise-Keeper. Amen.

Action Step:

Choose one practical area this week where you will “prepare the way” for God’s promise — declutter your schedule, restart a spiritual habit, reconcile with someone, or return to a promise you stopped expecting. Make space for what God is sending.

Family Declaration:

We hear the sound of Heaven over our home. We prepare the way of the Lord with faith and expectation. We declare that every promise God has spoken will come to pass. We welcome His roar, His presence, and His power in our family. This home is ready for the promise. Amen.