BLOG HAS BEEN MOVED

 Since some people were having problems with this blog, I’ve moved it. Hopefully that will resolve any issues.

https://livingintheheartofgod.com/

MORE ON MOUNTAINTOPS AND VALLEYS

I’ve talked a lot about mountaintops and valleys. A friend asked me to clarify what I meant by that. At first I struggled trying to explain myself. I love it when a brother or sister in Christ challenges me to think more clearly about something. Obviously I’m talking about them from a spiritual perspective. Often when we talk about valleys it tends to imply times of discouragement, self-doubt, distance from our Father and even depression. Unfortunately that often seems to be the case. I know it has been for me over the years. I can say with no doubt that is NOT what our Father wants for us. Yes, there are ups and downs in life but how we view them is what is important. 

When I was on a mountaintop the first couple months of this year everything was so clear. Scripture came alive like it hadn’t for a long time. I could see the Abba heart of God like I hadn’t for years. These posts have come from an overflowing heart. Those mountaintop times are exhilarating. They fill us with joy and a feeling of closeness with God. I think I may have shared before that while I was on that mountaintop, God pointed to another mountaintop off in the distance. One I could see was even higher and more majestic than the one I was on and He said “see that mountaintop over there? That’s where I want to take you. But in order to get there you’re going to have to go through the valley in between”. I’m in the valley now and I think I’ve finally come to understand the purpose. You see, I think the “valley” times in our lives are the times God gives us to reflect on what he has taught us on the “mountaintops”. To reflect on His goodness and love. And yes, to reflect on our lives. And even more importantly, to learn to trust Him more. Things are not as clear in the valley and it’s harder to see what’s ahead. Those are the times we need to learn to hold onto His hand tightly. When we let go, even for a short time, that’s when discouragement can set in. That’s when we start to wonder if He really loves us and hears us. So if you are in a valley, please hold His hand as tight as you can and don’t let go. If you have found that you have let go I can assure you from my own experience that He’s right there walking with you and just waiting for you to reach your hand back to Him. 

ABIDING

As I think I’ve mentioned, I’m spending my morning times with my Abba reading through the gospel of John. This morning I was in Chapter 15, It talks about abiding. It’s actually one of my favorite passages because it talks about our Father’s love and what He can do through us if we abide in Him.  It’s also a passage that I’ve always struggled with because it says that if we abide in Him, we will bear much fruit. My problem is that I’ve never felt like I was much of a fruit bearer. I’ve always felt that I fell way short of what God wanted from me. I think that Dad spoke to me once again this morning through His Spirit to let me know that there has been more fruit than I realize. At least I hope that’s true.

You see, I don’t think we see even the tip of the iceberg as to what God accomplishes through us. That’s a good thing. It would likely create huge egos in us.  A number of years ago a gentleman contacted me through Facebook. He told me that he had been in a Bible study that I had led in college and that it had a big influence on him and his life. I could not remember him at all. I had a vague recollection of the study but not at all of him. I felt bad that I couldn’t but I shared with him how much of an encouragement that was that he made the effort to hunt me down and tell me that. My point is that God uses us in so many ways to bear fruit that we may have no idea about this side of heaven. So the next time you may be discouraged and thinking you are bearing little or no fruit remember that our God is active in your life in ways you aren’t even aware of.

An update on a previous post: God was asking me to do a hard thing. The time came for me to do it and only by His grace and the peace He gives was I able to follow through. Another burden lifted by Him and even more of a sense of freedom. Someday I hope I’ll share with you what it was all about but not today.