Mounting up brings confidence
Isaiah 40:31 KJV
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
This is a verse that many of us know. It has much truth to look at, but the one I want us to spend time with is "upon the Lord".
I remember as a child when I would go to church camp, we would have a day that we got to go horseback riding. I looked forward to going to the corral and having a horse that I could call my own, for at least an hour. There was a bit of intimidation of being around such a majestical animal and a bit of fear would also be present. The horse handler would show me how to approach the horse, tell me it's name and give instructions on how I was to mount up. To me, this whole process each year was as grand as the first time. I would be in anticipation of leaving the ground and trusting the whole way up as I mounted this great steed, probably named "Brownie". From that point, the rest of the kids and I were directed into a line where we would start heading towards the trail. The feeling of being up on that horse, was like non other. I felt powerful and that my horse could do most anything. There would be moments when we would have to go down a slight incline or up a rocky old dried up creek bed, but because I was up on my horse, I had confidence that we would make it through. I can remember having such confidence in the horses ability to walk the trail that I could actually turn around and talk to my friend behind me. As we would be heading back to the corral, we were told to hold tight to the reigns as the horses knew where they were going and could take off to run back home. It would be a little bumpy but oh what a ride it was. I could hardly wait until the next year!
We all have situations in life that we would love to be able to get on top of. The verse in Isaiah tells us that as we wait for things to work out, or come to a different level, we can wait - up - on the Lord. Yes, just like when I mounted the horse, we are told that in our waiting that we can mount UP! and in actual spiritual reality, we are already mounted. He is the beautiful steed or incredible eagle that we can ride or glide on as those difficult situations, places and things are below our feet.
Prayer is a big part of the Christians life and it is where our mounting up is very real. We can tell God all of our ideas, struggles and dreams as we are on the trails of life, learning to trust Him with every detail. We can start to have such confidence in His ability it enables us to begin to look around and talk to others about Him as we go down and up the trails of life.
I end this blog with this Powerful and Magestic picture -
Revelation 6
And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
My dear friends, as we enter this year, may we have full confidence in Jesus more and more. We are not below, but upon Jesus.
Happy New Year!
A couple of verses for relection:
Hebrews 1:3
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
Ephesians 2:6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
We have a balcony seat looking down!