Those of us who walk by faith will face a great many uphill battles. In fact, many of these battles become like mountains we have to climb under the most difficult and extremely challenging circumstances. You can be sure that God will allow many battles on many mountains in your life. He does this because He knows that life’s mountains can become great opportunities for the growth of your faith. You can be assured that God’s miraculous touch will always be waiting to steady you on every slippery slope. His hand will be there to secure and direct your footsteps. He promises this in His Word. Psalm 37:23-24 (NKJV) says, “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.”
There will be times when you reach the point in your faith journey where the only answer has to be God. Just relax! God will be waiting for you at the moment you need Him. As you climbed your Faith Mountain He will have watched over you every step of the way. At the top of your climb, in your hour of greatest testing, He will faithfully show Himself strong. He will provide.
As you read this, you may be at the beginning of a particular faith climb or half way up your Faith Mountain. You can be certain that God’s desire is that you will not try to take the climb alone. He longs for you to acknowledge Him and His presence through prayer and fellowship… every step of the way. God loves to respond to your delight and thanksgiving for His presence. He will honor your fellowship and prayers as you make your way up your mountain. I highly recommend that you cling to God and use prayer as a means to a secure and constant foothold for every step you take. As you do this, God will respond with His unique, miraculously effective system of responsive care over you. He puts it into divine motion the very second you make your prayer request known to Him.
Let me give you an example of how God responds to prayer in the midst of close fellowship with Him. We read about it in Genesis, Chapter 22. As Abraham begins to climb up one side of the mountain, his son Isaac questions from where it is that the sacrifice will come. Abraham is climbing his mountain by faith. He has no idea how God will provide. It is a climb of faith. (Isn’t that the way God always wants it to be?) The Bible says Abraham replies, telling Isaac that God will provide for Himself a lamb for a burnt offering. Allow Abraham’s words to his son Isaac touch your heart. You can be sure that the same God who provided for Abraham will provide for you. Genesis 22:13-14 (NKJV) tells us, “Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. {14} And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of The LORD it shall be provided.””
Do whatever is necessary to keep your footing firmly planted upon the faithfulness of God. Never allow doubt to speak its lying voice, questioning whether God will be there for you. Reinforce your faith with this example in Genesis, Chapter 22. Even before Isaac asked Abraham where the sacrifice would come from, God was moving to cause a ram to climb up the other side of the mountain. The Lord also caused a thicket to grow well ahead of Abraham’s arrival at the place of sacrifice. He then prepared the ram’s path to lead into that thicket. God left nothing to chance. He is always in complete control. Here is the point. When you have no idea how God’s provision will even be possible, just let your faith strengthen you so you can keep climbing your particular mountain. If doubts continue to throw themselves in your path, trying to find their way into your heart and mind, take the time to remind yourself of Philippians 4:6-7. These verses from God’s Word provide divinely given guidelines for climbing Faith Mountains. In the New King James Version, it says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (The Apostle Paul knew from first-hand experience that what he wrote in these verses is a biblical principle then and now.)
The formula for the peaceful exercise of a faith climb is simple. It comes in a sequence of four parts. First, regardless of how difficult the apparent sacrifice appears to be, respond with obedience. When God asks you to climb the mountain, start climbing and do not look back. He will make a way and will provide. Second, trust Him in each step of the journey. He is forever faithful and will keep you from stumbling. Third, when doubt tries to be your companion for the journey, hang onto Philippians 4:6-7. Speak these verses to yourself, the devil and anyone else who can hear them. Finally, expect that you will find your needs will meet God’s provision at the completion of the climb. Keep this one expectation large in your heart. At the high point of your obedience, you will find the high point of God’s faithfulness. This is a principle for a lifetime of success and significance. Practice it. Make it one of the primary patterns of your life and you will never be alone on your journey. Let’s give God glory.
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory, with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.”
(Jude 24-25 NKJV)