What Mountain?

Have you ever found yourself facing a mountain in life? A mountain of trail so vast—discouragement immediately sets in?

But what if your mountains could simply melt like wax?

Metaphorically speaking Psalm 97:5 says just that!

“The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.”

In order for the mountains we face to melt, we have to realize what exactly the mountains are. Take a look at the following scripture in Mark 11:20-23.

“In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!’ ‘Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered. ‘I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.”

Essentially Jesus is saying, if we do not doubt—but believe His Word with our whole heart—mountains, the minute they present themselves can be tossed into the sea—just like that! And we can confidently live our life saying “What Mountain?”

Question, why would Jesus answer Peter’s remark about the fig tree “Have faith in God?” Jesus is always teaching us something bigger than what our eyes see. He must have known Peter’s (and our) biggest struggle was faith in God—alone.

Our faith has to be about Him alone, therefore; “Have faith in God.” Faith is not about our works or the methods we use to get God to move on our behalf. It’s about simple truth in the only One who never lies.

The mountains are not the things that we face at all.

A troubled marriage, finances, rebellious children, depression, addictions, impossible circumstances, grief, illness—depending on our faith—these feel as enormous as Mt. Everest.

But in all reality the mountain we face is unbelief.

Everything in life that would present itself as a mountain originates from unbelief. Therefore, if we have true faith in God, there would not be mountains to face, because true faith in God believes He is bigger than any problem or trial that tries to rise against us. True faith in God does not worry or fret wondering if God will perform—true faith in God knows God can and will come through. True faith in God rests in thy will be done and does not try to manipulate Him to do what we want Him to do. Accordingly, if we have true faith in God everything that appears as a mountain melts like wax before the Lord our God.

You’ve got to love this!

The mountains we face are not objects of opposition at all. The mountain is what’s in us—it is what we believe or do not believe about God.

Our Christian mindset is not exactly faith in God. It is faith in God and me. When our faith is divided between God and self, or God and methods, faith becomes diluted, therefore making faith weak, becoming unbelief and is rendered ineffective.

The mountain of unbelief that resides in people is the most difficult to move. Why? Because the battle is no longer God and me against adversity—but our soul against our spirit, (Gal. 5:16-18) “Me” against God. It’s easy to look at the attack of the devil against us, but when the battle lays within, it is a different story because to win, self must decrease.

In regard to overcoming unbelief—follow the methods mentioned in my last blog: Fully Convinced (click to read).

Most importantly what we must recognize about mountain moving faith is that it’s about relationship with God the Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit. We must live a Christ centered life where Jesus is enough. Remembering God is not a genie. In this setting—as we spend time with Him, our faith increases and the mountains melt like wax before the Lord our God.

Please be encouraged to make your new saying “What mountain?”

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Shady

Have you ever been so tired and hot that you longed for a shady spot to rest? Can you remember how revived you felt when you found it?

One of my favorite passages of scripture is Psalm 121.
Verse 5 articulates,

The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.

Ponder the words, “stands besides you” and “protective shade.” Wow. Marvel at verse 6, “The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.” You’ve got to love this! Essentially God stands right next to us and protectively watches over us day and night!

This past weekend I assisted in putting on a bridal shower tea party. It was held in my friends beautiful back yard. When we set up all the tables they were covered by shade, but as the hour approached the shade moved and we were in full afternoon sun. Eventually we sought relief from the heat and moved beneath a large tree. The shade found under its shadow was quite refreshing.

There’ s a stark contrast between God and common everyday shade, the difference is that He remains. Lamentations 5:19 says “Lord—you remain the same forever!” Unlike the bridal shower, we can set our life up under His shade and never doubt its constancy. Why? Because God does not become restless; He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

We, on the other hand are the ones who get fidgety. We can become uncomfortable and impatient with our life and consequently stray from the shade of His presence.

I want to encourage you to adopt God’s characteristic of—remaining. To permanently set your life up underneath His protective shade, knowing it will never shift.

The secret to remaining, is to become addicted to His presence and completely dependent on His love.

Be inspired to draw so near to Him that you tuck yourself under the shady shadow of His wing, daily finding rest and relief in the nearness of your God.

“Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, for You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice.” Psalm 17:8 & Psalm 57:1
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.  He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.  Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.  The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.  The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.  The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.  The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.” Psalm 121