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The Mountain Ahead-February 18, 2019

There is a mountain up ahead in your life. How are you going to get past it? Let's explore the ways.

Monday Morning Devotion-February 18, 2019

 

The Mountain Ahead

 

We walk by faith, not by sight.    2 Corinthians 5:7

 

     Does it sometimes seem that when you look ahead at expected circumstances, things you anticipate happening, problems you'll have to surmount, they look like a big mountain you will have to climb?  Are you already worrying about how you will get over, around or through that large problem looming in your future?

            Been there done that?  I sure have.  It is a worrisome thing.  In fact, this fearsome factor that you believe is going to make things difficult for you can capture so much of your attention that you are likely to make mistakes or neglect current, day-by-day living. 

            In "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young here is what we are instructed to do.  Jesus says:

"Follow me one step at a time.  That is all I require of you.  In fact, that is the only way to move through this space/time world.

            You see huge mountains looming and you start wondering how you're going to scale those heights.  Meanwhile because you're not looking where you're going, you stumble on the easy path where I am leading you now.

            As I help you get back on your feet, you tell Me how worried you are about the cliffs up ahead.  But you don't know what will happen today, much less tomorrow."

            While we are using all of our brain power trying to figure out how to negotiate this sticky problem that we anticipate being a huge one, there may be a different way.

            Young continues with this information from Jesus: "Our path may take an abrupt turn, leading you away from those mountains.  There may be an easier way up the mountains that are not visible from this distance.  If I do lead you up the cliffs, I will equip you thoroughly for that strenuous climb.  I will even give My angels charge over you, to preserve you in all your ways."

            Then the concluding paragraph has these words of advice: "Keep your mind on the present journey, enjoying My Presence.  Walk by faith, not by sight, trusting Me to open the way before you."

            Legendary Football coach Bobby Bowden, in his book "The Wisdom of Faith," wrote these words: "Life is fired at us point-blank.  We rarely have time to pause and say, 'wait! I'm not ready.  Give me time to prepare.'  About the time we think we know what the day will bring, we realize we don't.  Life is such a mystery.  Like when a fog rolls in during the night at seas.  We think we know what's out there, but not for sure.  Our lights penetrate only so far.  What lies beyond can be known only by sailing into the darkness, peering into it as best we can and watching vigilantly.  We hear a sound on the wind.  It is God's voice.  He says, 'Trust me.  Follow My voice.  Come this way.'  And with all my heart, that's what I want to do.  I do not resent the fog and darkness.  Rather, I'm thankful for the voice that guides my path."

            Bowden wrote that book years after his son-in-law and grandson were killed in an automobile accident on a rainy, windswept highway.  That was a mountain of grief that lay ahead of the Bowden family that they never could have anticipated.  It was their faith that pulled them through. 

            Sometimes the mountain that is ahead of us is not visible.  We can see it or know about it and have no idea it is in our path.  All we can know is that when and if there is one our faith in God will sustain us for it is the only thing that will bring us through it.

            In a four-month period from December 2010 through March 2011, the Lovely Susette and I faced a mountain of grief we could never have anticipated.  If we had known ahead of time that mountain would be blocking our way I'm not sure we would have made it through those days and along the path leading up to it.

            Five days before Christmas Susette's Dad, who lived with us, died suddenly.  Then, we had a doubly-tall mountain of grief poured out when our son, a college honor student who had everything to live for, died suddenly.  Then, my Mom, passed away on the day before Easter.

            Two of the most blessing-filled holidays we celebrate as Christians---Christmas and Easter---saw a landslide fall on our lives from a mountain of grief.  It was only through our faith and the Christian friends the Lord had put in our lives that we made it through those times and now, years later we are blessed with a happy life.  One in which the Lord sent us an unexpected gift in the form of our granddaughter Ellee who came to live with us.  That's another story of a mountain placed in our path, but one that we trust in the Lord to help us navigate through according to His will and in His plan.

            As you go through your day today accept the fact that somewhere out there will be a mountainous roadblock that you will have to get past.  You may go around it, climb over it or end up taking a different route.  Your faith will move you past it.  As long as you trust in the Lord there is no need to fear the future.

            In the meantime, Jesus is calling you to live your life today, not your future life.  He has plans for your life on this very day that are good ones.  It is up to you to seek His will and follow him through this day, then tomorrow and the next day. 

            Sure, you may soon come to the mountain that is blocking your way and threatening your plans.  But, because you have trusted the Lord each day leading up to the day you encounter that mountainous problem, you can be assured that He will lead you through this one as well.

           

 

Diana Ross sang:

                                    "Ain't no mountain high enough

                                     Ain't no valley low enough

                                     Ain't no river wild enough

                                     To keep me from you."

 

            That's basically what the Lord Jesus is saying when it comes to your life.

 

He loves you and there "ain't no mountain high enough" to defeat His plan for your

 

life.

 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, our hearts are overflowing with the joy that comes from knowing that no problem-filled mountain can block our way with you leading the way.     Amen!

 

 

 

 

    

    

    

    

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