Mountains

The Mountain of the Lord

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And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. Genesis 22:14 KJV

People often say that God will provide all our needs, or if they are really trying to be spiritual they may say, He is “Jehova Jireh”.  In this part of story of Abraham and Isaac, God made a very strange request. He told Abraham to take his son (and God reminded him that it was his only son) and to sacrifice him on the top of a mountain. Wow! What a terrible thing to even imagine! But rather than hesitate, argue with God or try to find some way out, Abraham simply began to walk to the mountain where God told him to go. When Abraham got to the top he made a stone altar, tied up his son and was ready to do as he was commanded when God sent an angel to say “Stop!” Then God showed Abraham a ram with his horns tangled in a thicket and that was when God provided.

So ask yourself this morning; “Where is God sending me to go and what is He asking me to give?” Following God may seem scary; but our biggest adventure and our greatest opportunity begins when we obey Him. There at the top of the mountain of the Lord, He has sent us to is where God becomes our very own Jehova Jireh!

Imported from phone 786

Back to the Valley

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Recently we returned from our trip to Pennsylvania back to Florida. One of my favorite parts of that drive was the view as we descended into North Carolina. It may have looked a lot the same as the disciples came down from the mount of transfiguration. The truth however is that at the bottom of such a beautiful view lie our real life problems.

Instead of a home coming celebration, the first thing waiting for Peter, James and John in the valley was an embarrassing failure of faith. One father who had brought his son to the other disciples for help found out that Jesus’ followers were powerless his child. The harsh facts of suffering appeared to be greater than the prayers of God’s people.

But when Jesus came things changed. Jesus didn’t need a special meeting or even time to think up a solution. He simply said, “Bring him to Me.” When Jesus comes things change. Impossible problems find their answers.

Then Jesus answered … Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Matthew 17:17‭-‬18 NKJV

No matter what we are face to face with in life we can know that Jesus is also coming down into the valley for us. Unbearable circumstances will find release. Our hopeless hearts will receive help. And at the bottom of the valley of our struggles lie God’s answers to every one of our prayers!

Our High Mountain Places

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Yet I will rejoice in the Lord , I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:18

Rejoicing is not a response to our situations it is a step of faith. Habakkuk was witnessing the complete destruction of his people. He could have been angry and filled with hatred. But instead of bitterness he chose to trust in something he knew he might not live to see – God’s restoration. He decided that if God had given him a mountain of difficulty God would also give him the strength to climb it.

Whatever mountain we are facing we can also choose to rejoice. By faith we can claim His promise of feet like a deer to walk on our highest mountain paths.