IF Only There Were Mountains

If Only There Were Mountains

I stand, on this dreary seashore of my life, looking over this dreary backwash bay.  Nothing invigorating or inspiring. Nothing hard enough to inspire anyone.
"The whole of my life is like that these days--not hard, just dull. A challenge that would make me want to achieve at any cost. It's this useless feeling that's so devastating.
"I must confess, my spiritual vision has failed, what with waiting so long upon my God."
"So long? You need to grow in patience. For after you have done the will of God, you must learn to wait to receive the full extent of His promise.
"It is written: 'As for me, when I am poor and feeling heavy, your help, O God, will lift me up.  I wait patiently, trusting that you will lift me up.'
"So I ask: Have you tried to face your life--those dull, dreary days--with the lifting power of praise?"

Lift my sights, Lord. Let me see today, and each duty in this day, as You see it.

~Amy Carmichael

The Mountaintop

As I was reading the other night, I was struck by this verse in Mark. It says that the disciples "came to Him" when Christ "called those whom He desired" to Himself. I thought about how sometimes I hear the same call but am afraid to go up the mountain because Self begins to speak to me and talk me out of the journey. The following is an account of such a time and promises that have helped me in the battle.


"And He [Christ] went up on the mountain and called to Him those whom He desired, and they came to Him."(Mark 3:13)


He, my Beloved, has gone up to the mountain, am I willing to follow?

The way is steep and treacherous; it may end in death!

But my Beloved has called me. I have heard His voice, and I must go!

But surely you could wait. Surely He will come down and meet with you here, as He has in the past.

No, He desires my company now. If He did not, He would not have summoned me, He would not have called me to come up. I will go to Him though seven deaths lay in between! He will uphold me and will not allow me to fall headlong. He will not allow me to be forsaken(Ps. 37:24-25).

But you lack strength, and you'll have to leave everyone and everything you ever knew. You may be humiliated along the way. What if you are forsaken? What if you get to the top and He's not there? 


Self, you are right; I haven't the strength to climb this mountain, but the Lord is my strength and I shall be helped (Ps. 28:7) I shall not be left for He has promised me that He shall never leave me nor forsake me (Deut 31:8). Though I am leaving all behind, I know He is my portion (Lam. 3:24). Though, I am laid low what is that to the infinite glory I shall have when I am with Him on the mountaintop? What pleasure is there here that would keep me from the One whom my heart loves most? No, I shall not worry about my self-preservation. I shall care only about the glory of my Lord.

But...

NO, I shall not listen to you any longer; you care not for my good but only for yourself. I know that where my treasure is, there my heart shall be also (Matt 6:21). My heart is on that mountain, and I shall reach the top!