What Is
Your Mountain?
by Marian Baay
“I will make each of My mountains a road.”—Isaiah 49:11
When I
was young I was dreaming about moving mountains. As most of you know I am from
The Netherlands. We don’t have mountains in our small country. It is flat for
the greater part, and I really wanted mountains around me. In the south of our
country we have hills and I always thought they were big…until I saw real
mountains in Spain and Portugal.
In our
spiritual life we also have mountains, even the Bible speaks of them. Ron Dunn writes in his book Faith
Crisis: “In the Bible, mountains are
used to symbolize barriers and hindrances. They represent immovable objects,
insurmountable problems that block the path of God’s people, making progress
impossible.”
Through
the years I learned a couple of things. The more time I spend with God the
better I will get to know Him. He shows His will through his Word—the Bible. So
if I want to know God I must read my Bible and spend time with God in prayer.
God will show me what is important to me. By reading the Bible I will also get
to know myself—that can be very frustrating because I am going to see things of
myself that I don’t like, but then it gets even more amazing when I see in
contrast how beautiful, perfect, and loving God is. So while I get to know God
better He shows me some things of my life.
Before
I started writing this article I thought my biggest mountain was my physical
limitation, but God showed me I was wrong—the biggest mountain in my life is myself.
Aren’t we all our own mountains? Naturally we don’t like to surrender ourselves
to God; we like to hold on to things, do things our own way.
So it’s
time again to surrender ‘Mountain Myself’ to God once again and let Him deal
with it.
We all
have mountains; big ones, small ones, others are just some hills, but they are barriers
between God and ourselves. I am starting to realize I have several mountains.
Have you ever found yourself saying: “If it wasn’t for
this circumstance, I could do more for God, or I could do what He is asking of
me”? Well, you are not alone. But have you ever thought of it as your mountain?
We look at that mountain and think it is impossible to get through. How often
do we sit down disappointed and give up? Or maybe we will try again and run
into our mountain a second time.
Let’s just give it
all to God—the act of surrendering yourself to God is a step in faith. And
faith will be rewarded.
“Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,
‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but
believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”—Mark 11:22-23
GIVEAWAY: This week we are celebrating Marian's One Year Anniversary on OWG. Answer Marian's question—What is your Mountain? and leave your email addy to enter to win a copy of "The Well." We'll have giveaways all week with each post, and a Valentine's Day party, so come back by!
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GIVEAWAY: This week we are celebrating Marian's One Year Anniversary on OWG. Answer Marian's question—What is your Mountain? and leave your email addy to enter to win a copy of "The Well." We'll have giveaways all week with each post, and a Valentine's Day party, so come back by!
MARIAN, what a wonderful article! And oh, so needful! Yes, I have a mountain of physical limitations, but no, it isn't my biggest mountain. My biggest mountain is myself. Learning to trust God and also relinquishing control over to Him and letting Him fill the empty holes in my life (which I am reading more about in The Well by Mark Hall-a wonderful gift from CARRIE), are my biggest mountains. I try to fix everything and it doesn't work. Or I try to fill the empty places in my life with something else and that certainly doesn't work!
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you, MARIAN, the best way to overcome our mountains is to develop an intimate relationship with Christ by reading His word and praying. And in HIS time He will remove those mountains that stand in our way! What an anointed post...thank you, MARIAN.
Thank you, DIANA. I believe God wanted me to share this. He gave me the words to write down. It was a lesson/reminder for me this morning. I so easily think something else is the biggest mountain.
DeleteMarian, I really needed to read this today. Thanks so much! My whole attitude with this renewed foot pain is my mountain today. I need to submit to God and adjust my mindset so we can overcome. He is our great Helper! Hugs!!!
ReplyDeletePraying for you, CARRIE!
DeleteThis is such a beautiful article, Marian. We all have mountains. That's true. And we are all hindered by the biggest mountain of all...ourselves.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful job of writing, dear Marian. Joy Ross Davis
Thank you, JOY!
DeleteMy mountain is my health , one thing healed another rises, some times i feel satan is out to destroy me and God is saying no. i climb to the top of the mountain only to fall back down. i would love to read this book thank you
ReplyDeleteShirley Blanchard
I also have health problems, SHIRLEY. They can become a big mountain.
DeleteMountain is believing for my healing concerning the injuries I got from being in a care wreck getting hit from behind I was a a complete stop a lady going 45mph hit me I hit a into a tree trimming truck .Thanks for the offer .Dana
ReplyDeletejashbk@earthlink.net
I know it's not easy to live with these injuries, DANA. The Lord also feels them, because you are one. Praying for you.
DeleteLIke you said Marian we all have all kinds of mountains. Right now mine is caring for my mother. Our pastor said the Lord wants me to do that right now. That is not what I had in my plans I had other things in mind for different ministries. But my Mom is disable to live alone so now it is my place to care for her. So that is the mountain at the moment I am climbing. Prayers please!!!!
ReplyDeleteBlessings
joeym11@frontier.com
The Lord often asks things from us that we wouldn't choose for, but there is a reason for it. He knows what He's doing. Blessings!
Deleteyes, your mom needs you, Diana and what a blessing you are there for her!
DeleteI, too, have many mountains.
ReplyDeleteThis may not come across as a mountian for some, but to me it's huge. I seem to struggle with noticing sins of others versus my own.
I need to worry about what I can do with MY life to be as God wants me to be. It's not my place to judge others.
Thanks for sharing with us, CINDI. I think all Christian have a phase in their walk with Christ that they notice others sins. They often seem bigger than ours. Surrender your mountain to the Lord. He knows how to deal with it. And don't forget there's always a lesson found in our mountains.
DeleteMARIAN!!! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, GIRL!!!
ReplyDeleteAgree with Diana that your article above is truly anointed and made me chuckle with the phrase "Mountain Myself." Soooooo painfully true, which is why The Well is SUCH a great giveaway to celebrate your anniversary. You enhance this blog with your unique and deep perspective, Marian, and the quirky fun that is YOU!!
My mountains are more mental than physical at this stage of my life, when I find myself pulled away from Him by so many distractions in my career, but in His gracious mercy, He slowly tugs us back to Him ALWAYS, for which I am so very grateful!
Have a GREAT anniversary week, gals!!
Hugs,
Julie
Thank you, JULIE! Time flies--I can't believe it's a year already!
DeleteYou are right, there are always so many distractions in our lives that pulls us away from God. But thankfully He never gives up!
First of all, Happy Anniversary, Marian. Oh my, I have mountains, molehills and rolling hills in my life! My problem as you might guess - - is turning them over to God. So often, too often, I want to solve other's problems, adult children is only one, but what goes on in my church is another, and the world is a biggie. I only want a close relationship with Abba Father and Jesus and I know the rest will take care of itself. All I need to do is to pray and be practical in involving God about how to heal another persons problems and hurts. I'm not fond of the desert either...so Lord, please bless me with a happy medium. Thanks for this great giveaway and the chance to win a remarkable read.
ReplyDeleteIn Christian Joy,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com
Thank you, BARBARA. Naturally we like to do things ourselves. We often think that works faster, but in the end it only takes longer.
DeleteBARB, you are the winner of a copy of "The Well"--congrats!
DeleteMARIAN what a wonderful article, and I agree wholeheartedly with you about me being my biggest mountain and then there's all the other ones that I have...mom...hubby being sick...bills to pay...children to raise...just trying to live. lol There are so many things we encounter in life that get our attention. I was just thinking about all this and wondering if I should pray for God to remove all the mountains because maybe they will keep me closer to Him, keep me fully depending on Him to help me climb them, either way it's only through Him can I survive.
ReplyDeleteMarian you a such a blessing to me...your sweet smile, your wonderful sense of humor and now this wonderful encouraging message...makes a "mama" proud! :)
Thanks MOM! :) Maybe those mountains run in the family. lol
DeleteThank you for encouraging me.
MARIAN, what an eloquent and wonderfully inspired article!! Thank you so much sharing with everyone!
ReplyDeleteIt's something that God has been nudging me with lately and it really helps to see it written out so succintly. Like yourself, my mountains are myself because sometimes life is a matter of priorities and I know I need to make God more of a priority in my life just as He used to be... and often we then find other things that we thought were giant mountains, seem much, much smaller.
BTW... HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MARIAN!!!!! One year, wow!! Well done!! You have such a presence here, the blog would not be the same without you Dutchy! ;)
DeleteYou had me go to the dictionary with that big word, NOELA! Eloquent--not a word I often run into reading novels. ;)
DeleteIt is a blessing already when one sees that he/she is the biggest mountain. When you see it you can give it to the Lord.
Marian, great blog today. I know this is off topic, but I didn't realize that The Netherlands was flat for the most part. Interesting. I love learning about geography and history. I've had many mountains in my life. In 2008 I faced one of my biggest mountains ever, but God had prepared me all my life for this mountain. Many folks who found themselves in my situation would have been bitter, angry and focusing on everything they were unable to do. As a younger less mature Christian I might have reacted this way as well. I was so thankful God had prepared me to weather this mountain with Him and with His Grace. In 2008 quite suddenly I became bedfast, required sleep 24 hrs per day virtually, was on oxygen. Those around me including the medical team really thought I might be going home. Well, as you know it wasn't my time. Since then I've regained several things that I wasn't able to do, like read. It took over a year to regain that and I'm so thankful God in His mercy allowed me to have it back. During this time I grew even closer to God and became a mighty prayer warrior and encourager. I've loved reading the responses and I'm so blessed to be friends with so many of you on FB. Happy Anniversary Marian, just realized this.
ReplyDeleteAlso as you pointed out I'm my biggest mountain. LOL.
Blessings and hugs, Susan Fryman susanngarrylee at yahoo dot com
SUSAN, I'm so thankful that God spared your life and that we got to know each other! God uses our weaknesses to bring us closer to Him. We often think we must be healthy and strong so that we can do something for God. But when we are strong we don't really need Him. We can do it in our own strength.
DeleteI'm weak, but still often think I'm strong. Then a new period of pain reminds me how weak I truly am and that often brings me back closer to Him.
Happy Anniversary, MARIAN! I can't believe it has been a year. You are such a sweet person and a lovely asset to this blog. It's been a joy knowing you and becoming friends!
ReplyDeleteThankfully, spiritual "mountains" aren't immovable. Through prayer and communing with the Lord, he is certainly able to remove them. Not that He always does, but I do pray His will to be done and mine to be aligned with His. I think my biggest "mountain" is my own practicality. Sometimes it can come off seeming prideful or as if I don't care about things or people. And that's just not true. I do care, and I do have compassion, but at the same time I am so practical about some things. Take death, for instance. To me, it's a practical issue. If you're born, you're going to die. If you're a Christian, you know God's got this. Why get angry? I just don't understand why some people who say they are Christian get SO angry when someone dies. I understand sorrow, despair, heartbreak. You know I do! But anger...nope. See? I'm very practical.
Love you, girlfriend in the Netherlands where there are no mountains ;)
Thank you. I also can't believe it's been a year!
DeleteI understand you, ANNE--I don't understand anger either. I just talked to someone about that last week. Not sure if that person understood me, but I'm glad I'm not alone in that. :) Bless you, girl!
Hi Marian--
ReplyDeleteTwo mountains for me? Cancer and seeing the child of a close relative murdered. Of the two, I can't imagine how she got through it... as far as the cancer & surgery--the Lord blessed me with miracles throughout. All I can say is that dwelling on the Lord strengthened me (us) immeasurably.
p.s. Hi Carrie! I love the old German Fraktur script for the title of this blog! Gorgeous!
Continued blessings and a Happy Valentine's Day!
hi PAT,
DeleteGood to hear that through your trials the Lord has strengthened you!
God bless!
Loved your comments in this post, Marian, you have such an amazing heart and it shines through beautifully :) Happy Anniversary to you, my friend, it's such a pleasure to celebrate your time and your growth on this blog! What a difference you make with your character, beauty, depth, humor, and faith!! I'm so blessed to call you my friend :)
ReplyDeleteWhat really spoke to me about your comments was surrendering to the Lord. That's something I'm constantly working on and with each step I take I learn to trust God even deeper. My mountain is seeing myself as Christ sees me no matter what my surroundings/circumstances dictate. I was challenged last week because of a silly comment from a loved one and then on Sunday God poured love and acceptance on me that caused me to forget anything else. I need to hold on to that and go forward. I pray the same thing for you and your readers. Thank you Marian for always being yourself and for your constant encouragement :)
I'm trusting 2013 to be a year filled with blessings and breakthroughs for you, precious girl! Hugs and blessings Marian :) *waving to my OWG sisters!*
(not an entry)
Thank you for your sweet words, KARA! Surrendering to the Lord is something that keeps coming back, so you are right to say that you're constantly working on that. Everytime we can give a mountain to the Lord, it feels so good to be relieved of that burden. So glad that the Lord poured His love and acceptance on you last Sunday!
DeleteBless you, my friend!
I think one of my mountains is my health. Another is my wanting control. shopgirl152nykiki(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDelete