God uses both the disappointments and excitements to teach is more about Him.
I often refer to those crazy opportunities, new adventures, and wild dreams-come-true as "mountains." Towering mountains of opportunity thrill and intimidate us. From the ground, big opportunities look scary to climb. To get to the top, you have to go way outside of your comfort zone. But the climb is worth it because the view will take your breath away!
We try to hide our fear and weakness under a blanket of self-improvement.
But, like Paul, I urge you to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified. Only Jesus' death overcomes our failure, faults, and foolishness. When preparing for the climb of a lifetime, may our faith reside in Christ alone not in our own knowledge, worldly advice, or self-help books. God's power works through our weakness! We don't need the mind of men for we have the very mind of Christ!
In the midst of rocky patches, may we look up from the dirt path and turn to the Creator of the mountains, the One who will never forsake us.
Don't shuffle your feet along, head to the ground, eyes focused on what is right in front of you. Look up! Out loud, proclaim "The Lord is my helper, I don't have to be afraid, what can man do to me?".
5. People will know we have been on the mountain.
With much opportunity comes much responsibility. We've all heard this phrase. Whether it be the good news you didn't expect, the job offer you've been waiting to receive, or the approval letter you thought would never come, opportunity astounds and excites! But when it comes to catching that plane, leaving your comfort zone, or transitioning to a different world, opportunity is scary.
Opportunity brings pressure, expectations, and requirements. Standing on the ground, comparing your strength to this mighty mountain, you may question whether or not you can make it up to the top. But most often, God uses the climb more than the end point. He teaches, grows, and pushes us as we rely on Him with every step.
Here are 6 things God taught me through mountains of opportunity:
1. God works through unintelligent "mountain climbers."
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:2-5When a scary chance of greatness looks us in the eye, it is easy to put all the pressure on ourselves. We want to succeed, we want to flourish, we want to fit in, we want to boast in our boldness. We do all we can to prepare through study, exercise, makeovers, diets, and shopping.
We try to hide our fear and weakness under a blanket of self-improvement.
But, like Paul, I urge you to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified. Only Jesus' death overcomes our failure, faults, and foolishness. When preparing for the climb of a lifetime, may our faith reside in Christ alone not in our own knowledge, worldly advice, or self-help books. God's power works through our weakness! We don't need the mind of men for we have the very mind of Christ!
2. God steadies our feet on the mountain.
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2Our feet will stumble when we embark on God-given feats. Our words may falter, our hearts may break, and change may produce deep loneliness. Trials are inevitable but enslaving fear is not! Because we are children of God, we have our heavenly Father to look to.
In the midst of rocky patches, may we look up from the dirt path and turn to the Creator of the mountains, the One who will never forsake us.
Don't shuffle your feet along, head to the ground, eyes focused on what is right in front of you. Look up! Out loud, proclaim "The Lord is my helper, I don't have to be afraid, what can man do to me?".
3. Mountains may crumble but God's love never fades.
"For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken," Says the LORD who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10What a relief to know that whatever happens on our hiking adventure, God will never fail us. Nothing is as constant as His love. The sooner we live out this truth, the sooner our disappointments, stress, and fear disappear in His incomprehensible peace. The Lord's compassion does not depend on our speed, performance, agility, looks, or attention. Let God define your success. Even if you never reach the top of the mountain, God is still God and His promise holds true.
4. God's mountain view takes our breath away!
Standing on this mountaintop, looking just how far we've come, knowing that for every step you were with us. Matt Redman; Never Once
His glory is our reward. It may be hard to see God in the midst of the strenuous climb but trust that He will never lead us where He won't go too. He sees the big picture. Trust that God will reveal to you glimpses of His beautiful plan in His own sovereign time. When God chooses to reap blessings through your opportunity, it is easy to forget the One who allowed you to succeed.
God deserves our full praise and dependence in the rocky patches and the glorious overlooks.
God deserves our full praise and dependence in the rocky patches and the glorious overlooks.
I encourage you to write down every mountain God helped you climb. Later, when you stand at the bottom of even bigger mountain, refresh your heart, soul, and mind with those specific acts of God's faithfulness and power.
5. People will know we have been on the mountain.
May others know you have been on the mount with God by the way your face and attitude shines! The Israelites noticed that Moses had been with God because His face shone bright (Exodus 34). The counsel recognized that Peter had been with Jesus (Acts 4) because His actions reflected Christ. In the same way, God uses mountain adventures to shine through us onto others.
Every opportunity is not just about you. God wants to use your experiences to impact specific people near and far from you. Your opportunities may produce a domino affect impacting lots of people or it may impact just one life.
God lights candles in our heart not for us to keep to ourself but for us to spark the candles in others.
If we talk about His faithfulness, admit our weakness, proclaim God's strength, and lean on Believers for support, prayer, and encouragement, people will know we have been with Jesus on the mountain.
May others clearly notice the mark of Jesus on your life as you recall past mountains and climb new ones.
6. God has a mountain waiting for you.
When we let God guide us, He will work each day to the best advantage of His purpose.
Like Paul in prison, we can sleep peacefully and praise God loudly because we trust that He will get the most glory in the end (Acts 12). God has unique experiences lined up for each one of us. He has a special purpose for every twist and turn. God infuses His intricate love into everyone's differing journey points; therefore, comparing your mountain to someone else's mountain is pointless. Don't let fear, apathy, selfishness, or busyness keep you from the God-opportunities created especially for you.
Your mountain is waiting.
Every opportunity is not just about you. God wants to use your experiences to impact specific people near and far from you. Your opportunities may produce a domino affect impacting lots of people or it may impact just one life.
God lights candles in our heart not for us to keep to ourself but for us to spark the candles in others.
If we talk about His faithfulness, admit our weakness, proclaim God's strength, and lean on Believers for support, prayer, and encouragement, people will know we have been with Jesus on the mountain.
May others clearly notice the mark of Jesus on your life as you recall past mountains and climb new ones.
6. God has a mountain waiting for you.
What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9God has unimaginable opportunities prepared for you. (Disclaimer: they are never what you expect). He will lead you on mountains of all shapes and sizes if you are in tune with His voice and willing to say "Yes" to his calling. Take comfort in the fact that nothing (finance, inexperience, disasters, death, mistakes ect.) can overcome God's plan for you. If God wants you to preach His Word to unbelievers or serve the poor in another country, nothing will hold you back. God doesn't need us complete His work, he wants us to participate in His work for our good.
When we let God guide us, He will work each day to the best advantage of His purpose.
Like Paul in prison, we can sleep peacefully and praise God loudly because we trust that He will get the most glory in the end (Acts 12). God has unique experiences lined up for each one of us. He has a special purpose for every twist and turn. God infuses His intricate love into everyone's differing journey points; therefore, comparing your mountain to someone else's mountain is pointless. Don't let fear, apathy, selfishness, or busyness keep you from the God-opportunities created especially for you.
Your mountain is waiting.
☎︎
The Girl Next Door
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