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Devotional - This Is The Mountain

I just finished reviewing Tony Gore's new project, "Can't Stop" which you can read here on SoGospelNews.com. It has a lot of good songs on it, but one that really touched my heart was a song written by Ricky Atkinson, entitled "This Is The Mountain." In the song, he recalls the story of Abraham, who God asked to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. I never think of that story that it doesn't stir in my heart all that Abraham must have had to deal with to be obedient. Yet, in the story, we have a clear cut example of why he is called "The Father of our Faith." You can read the story in Genesis 22. The part that always encourages me is the instruction that Abraham gave to his servants before he and Isaac ascended the hill. Incidentally, I've heard Bible scholars who believe that Mt. Mariah that they went to was actually the very same mountain called Calvary in Jesus' day. I don't know for sure, but it sure makes the story better! As Abraham was getting ready to make the climb - the journey to take his only son's life - he told his servants: "And Abraham said to his young men, 'Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.'" Genesis 22:5 (NKJV) Notice, he didn't say "and I will come again until you." No, he said, "I and the lad" will go yonder, worship, and WE will return. How could he say that? Faith! He knew he had God's Word that Isaac was the son of promise. He was the son God had promised him through which all the nations of the world would be blessed. He had God's Word on it! So, it didn't matter to him if God had to raise Isaac from the dead after Abraham had killed him, he knew they were both returning. It had to be. He had God's Word on it. The first chorus in the song says, "This is the mountain, the place God has chosen, To make a provision for Abraham's race. High on Mariah, a ram in the thicket, Making a way for the child to escape, This is the mountain God chose to show grace." It's that last line that really hit me. "This is the mountain God chose to show grace." And Abraham wasn't afraid to climb that mountain; he had God's Word on it. So, how does that apply to us today? How many who are reading this right now are facing a mountain they don't want to climb? How many feel like God has asked too much this time? How many feel overwhelmed, overloaded, and overrun? You're asking yourself how? You're asking God, "How can I do this?" And there's only one way: Do you have God's Word on it? Have you searched the Bible for the promises of God that apply to your situation? They're there. It doesn't matter what it is. Are you sick in body? The Bible is full of verses concerning God's promises to heal you. Is it financial pressure? There are countless promises of God's blessing. Is it marital problems? Salvation of a loved one? Whatever it is, you can have God's Word on it. It's right there in that Bible. Pick it up, dust it off, and get to reading. Ask God to lead you. Read and dig until you find the promises of God concerning your situation. Now, you have God's Word on it!!! You can climb that mountain. But there's one more thing to notice in what Abraham said to his servants. Look at verse 5 again. Abraham told them, "?I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you." Do what? Abraham said, "We're going to go worship God!" Abraham knew the importance of worship! You can worship your way out of trouble!! Worship will keep your heart right and joyful while you follow God's direction to climb that mountain. But climb every step of it with a song of praise on your lips. God inhabits your praise! (Psalm 22:3) And when God moves in, the devil moves out! Glory!!! And when you get to the top of that mountain, you will realize that this is the mountain that God chose to show grace to YOU!!! God has given you the victory!! Get in the Word! Get God's Word on your situation. Then climb your mountain worshipping God all the way. It doesn't matter what you're facing, you can overcome it!! This is the mountain God chose to show grace!!! Blessings, Bob Whitehead This Is The Mountain Ricky Atkinson © Ricky Atkinson Publishing, Tony Gore Music/BMI Can't Stop Tony Gore © 2003 Promised Land Records