Praise Mountain

The enemy comes at us from all around.  Though darkness may surround us, it cannot have us.  We got up here to Praise Mountain about 11 am or so.  Awesome place, up on the Great Divide.  Beautiful, quiet, peaceful – we have a cabin to ourselves (William, Josh, and I).  We checked the lay of the land, checked out the 3 prayer caves – partially built into the rocks with cinder blocks for a front and partial sides, door on front.  Small and dark – some with chairs/bench – lots of candles.  Their purpose is for one to get completely away for solitude and prayer.  

Prayer Cave

I chose to sit under the trees away from the cabin up on a hill – awesome view, mountains in the distance.  I see a storm brewing far away, hear the thunder, but I sit in a patch of sun, a cool breeze washes over me – so tranquil.  The storm is headed this way, even though I’m in the sun, a couple drops of rain hit me.  I continue to sit, drinking up the sun’s warmth, listening to the thunder, enjoying the breeze as God talks with me.  He took me into Judges 11 & 12:

Son of a prostitute, cast out from among people, called a man of valor, becomes leader of  renegades, then the leader of people who cast him out, devout follower of God/keeper of his vows,  offered his only child as a sacrifice to keep vow to God.  No matter how lowly we start out, if we seek God’s will and have His heart, he may set us up to be a leader.  What we vow to do we must keep – watch our words and make sure what we say is from God and His will.  When God is on your side, you have nothing to fear, because He will go before you.  When others threaten us and they have no cause or grounds to stand on, we fight back in the power of Jesus and we will win.  Greater is He that is within us than he who is in the world.

I think there are more insights for me to gain there.  I’ll sit here and wait for it.  “I see the clouds, I hear the rolling thunder … I consider all the works thy hands have made.  Then sings my soul …”  The smells are so wonderful here the birds sing, as do the locust.  Beauty, so overwhelming, all the senses are awake.  My soul longs to hear more from God.  The pine boughs dance in the breeze as the storm slowly rolls this way.  A streak of lightning across the sky, the thunder claps its hands.  God’s awesome power on display.  What shall we fear – not principalities, thrones, or darkness can snatch us from the Love of God.  “Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee, How great thou art …”

God is so good.  He took me to 1 Kings 18:42, 1 Kings 19 (all) and 1 Cor. 2.  Seek God with all your strength.  Wow!  v. 3 – we’ve been pursued by the enemy, relentlessly from all angles.  v.4 went into the wilderness, we became weary after great battles.  v. 8 went to the mountains to fast and pray.  v. 9 caves v. 10 we have been very zealous for the Lord (10/6 years).  We feel alone, the enemy seeks to take our life.  v. 11 I stood on the hill, strong winds, lightening/thunder, the Lord speaks v. 12 with a still small voice.  v. 19 the mantle passes to another (William and I) v. 21 and Josh is to become a disciple.

He is doing great things in us and through us and for us.  Then He took me to Heb. 11- we live by faith, we don’t have to see it to believe that what God says is true.  He can make anything happen out of nothing, no matter the circumstances surrounding us.  God is always faithful.  v.5 I pray that I please God and that I am counted worthy to go up in the rapture, not seeing death.

William came up to the hill to join me.  We turned to Is 42 – v. 15-16 - God will lay our problems to waste v. 21-22.  Is. 43:1-2, 10-12, 19, 25 – God does these things for His glory, He will not forsake His chosen, by bringing us up, His name is glorified.  v. 26 – Lord, you said your people would never be put to shame, that you would never forsake your people, you always uphold your word, that we would not be a people that borrow or beg.  You are a God of righteousness and goodness, justice is ours in Your name.  Take hold in remembrance for what you say – you are not a God who speaks lightly and you never change your mind.  v. 26!  Ch. 44: 3-5, 9-13 – when men try to do things for themselves or for their own glory or if we try to do things in our own strength, we will be put to shame.  God has already helped us; we need to quit pursuing our own idols.  We are not to do our things, then add God to it.  We are to pursue God first and His work and He will add these things to (Matt. 6)  We don’t go by what we see or reason, to God’s glory only do we live.

They overcame by the blood of the lamb, by the word of their testimony and not loving their life unto death”  We need to let go of all things and let all things be to the glory of God.  We can’t get comfortable and spoiled.  He then needs to pull things away to see if we will come after Him and seek Him no matter what we have or don’t have.  He wants to see where we stand.  When others then see us, they want what we have, the Glory of God within us.  We will not be moved but by God alone.  Fight the good fight no matter what and to rejoice no matter what.  Ch. 45:2-3  no matter what the enemy does and takes, no matter what God does in our lives to Glorify Himself, the enemy cannot stop things.  He makes it look like he is in control, we will not complain, but only be moved by what God says and what we know in His word to be true.  We will not be moved by the enemy no matter what he throws at us.  No matter how far the devil tries to push us, we will push back in Jesus’ name.  We can take him down by one little stone, we have dominion and authority here.  God will not be mocked, His word is true, we have to take the darkness by force.  If God be for us, who can be against us.  v 4-6 there is only one God and God’s people will not be defeated.  V 9-11 what are you doing God?  Who are we to say.  All is to God’s glory.  We become mockers of God if we give into the complaints the devil throws at us.  V17, 22, 23, 25 every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.