September 12

My Mountaintop Experience


… He went up on a mountain….

Matthew 5:1 (NKJV)


On a recent Saturday I looked out my window; the Oregon Cascades—beautiful snow-capped mountains—drew me like a moth to a bright porch light in July. My family and I decided it was time to visit one of our favorites—Mount Bachelor.

After a thirty-minute drive and a fifteen-minute lift ride to the top of the world, we stepped off to a breathtaking view of earth below. We were entranced. From this height, we could see so many other mountains—including mountains in California (Shasta) and Washington State (Ranier). My family and I ooed and awed, took a ton of pictures and made some lasting memories that day.

Mountains are just special. No doubt about it! Many times in Scripture, we read about mountains drawing so many for refuge or retreat. Jesus Himself was drawn to mountains; He prayed here, taught here, worked miracles here.

These exhilarating heights work on us. My own experience reminded me: I am so small and my God so big. The mountains He created for us to gaze at from afar, to climb and to ponder, He will one day remove and replace with something even greater. It reminded me, the life I now live is so much bigger, so much better, when I place it in His hands.

Father, thank You for mountains and mountaintop experiences and for the quiet reminder … You are an awesome God. Amen.