Speak to the mountains…

 

 

 

 

 

These days, I find myself in need of a good ole pep talk. A huddle of sorts. A time-out…if you will. Time to pause, absorb, recollect my thoughts and regain my composure.

My heart has grown heavy. My chest aches. Aches for too many of my friends battling the demon of cancer. In some ways, I’m surprised by the degree of the ache. But then I’m reminded of Jesus weeping for Lazarus.

His friend laid dead in a tomb, and Jesus wept. Weeping all the while He knew Lazarus’ resurrection was only moments away. And yet, Jesus picked up the burden and carried it upon His shoulders. He grieved the loss, even though it was only a momentary loss.

I too, find myself grieving the loss. The loss of body parts and the loss of daily life unaffected by the diagnosis of cancer.

And although, there is no way I can help my sisters bypass the journey that lies ahead. I hope in some small way, I may follow the example of Jesus and take up part of their burden and carry it upon my shoulders. I can’t take chemo, but I can take a meal. I can offer a prayer that will rise to the throne of heaven. I can hold a hand or give a hug. I can meet them in their grief and weep with them knowing…weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning. (Psalm 30:5 KJV)

In the end, I don’t want to get stuck in the grief or overwhelmed by the loss. I want to get stuck with my eyes fixed on Jesus. I want to get stuck knowing that my God is BIGGER. I want to get overwhelmed remembering that the cross swallowed up the grave. Life overcame death.

God met my need for a pep talk in the middle of one of my favorite Old Testament battle cries. He used it to remind me of the truth He had pointed out years earlier in a New Testament parable.

As I read in Exodus chapter 14, verse 15 jumped out at me. Moses had just demonstrated God’s infinite might through a series of 10 plagues against Egypt prompting Pharaoh to let God’s people go. As soon as the Israelites left Egypt, Pharaoh changed his mind. Pharaoh and his vast army set out in pursuit of them. The Israelites found themselves sandwiched between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s quickly approaching army. The Israelites were seized by fear.

Moses stepped up and told the Israelites the Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. (Exodus 14:13-14) Pretty bold words leaving me with the impression that Moses had a plan or some divine revelation about what was getting ready to transpire

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But then, the next verse says…Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?

Maybe I’m crazy, but it sounds to me like God might have been a little annoyed with Moses crying out to Him.

God then commanded Moses…Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the waters so that the Israelites can go through on dry land. (vs 16)

I sensed the Spirit teaching me. Don’t ask God to do something He has already empowered or equipped you to do. God had already given Moses his staff and Moses had used that staff to command numerous miracles to free the Israelites. I could just hear God saying…

I’ve already given you the staff (the power, the authority, the revelation of my will) now use it! Quit asking me to do what I have already done!

I then, remembered Matthew 17:20-21. (FYI: Jesus sounded a little annoyed in verse 17 preceding these verses.) I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

So this time, instead of a staff, I need faith as small as a mustard seed. One day it occurred to me. That’s not a lot of faith. Then God seem to press into me…You have that much faith…now USE it!

Use it to speak to the mountains in your life, commanding them to move.

And that’s the message…use your words to fan into a flame the faith God has given you. Speak to the mountains all around you and command them to move.

I need to use my words to speak life. To give hope. To offer praise. To give thanks. To slay giants. To command cancer to leave. To usher in health and healing. To heal hearts. To offer forgiveness. To bind strife. To praise God that from this day forward disease and illness will be cast away and life, healing and wholeness will be made manifest.

To praise God for the miracle He has sent that has not yet made its physical manifestation. The seed has been planted, the roots are digging deep and I eagerly look for the tree of life to burst through the seemingly barren land at any point. My physical eyes may not yet see what my spirit knows is true…a miracle is brewing.

I need to speak to that which is not as though it were; remembering that what is seen was NOT made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:1;3 (emphasis mine)

Faith comes first. Then words. Then the physical manifestation of the spiritual truth that has been declared.

Let me say until I see it. Louder. Bolder. Without ceasing. By the authority He has given us. By the power of His word and the revelation of His will. Let me speak life, hope, faith and love.

Now, faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see… Hebrews 11:1