The Rewards of The Climb


THE REWARDS OF THE CLIMB

By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly

“I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born, says the Lord” - Isaiah 66:9 NCV

Have you ever climbed a mountain?  I haven’t, but I have friends who think about climbing like going to Disneyland.  No doubt the scenery is spectacular, but because I am out of shape, the exertion sounds exhausting to me.

My climbing friends endure regular gym workouts by keeping the joy of these trips in mind.  They say that workouts were initially brutal, but with time, their strength and endurance increased, making exercise easier, even enjoyable.

So it is with life.  This season has been a serious exercise of my faith.  It has been tiring, but I am grateful for the strength and endurance previous workouts of my faith have given me.  Walking with God has provided new perspective of the valleys below, and breathless revelations of beauty I would have never known, had I not started on this journey.

Are you tired and discouraged, Beloved?  When we are weary the Lord gives us times of refreshing, and He carries us over many of the more difficult passes. Let’s bring our weariness before Him and let Him soothe our aching souls.

Father, lift us up!  You are our “rock, our fortress and our deliverer; our God is our rock, in whom we take refuge, our shield and the horn of our salvation, our stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2)

Teach us to “clip” in to the truths of the Word to keep us securely tethered to the Rock. As we read, may Your Word come alive, strengthen our grip and rivet our focus on You.  Tune our ears to Your voice of comfort and encouragement, and strengthen our legs to keep going.  Thank You that the pain of this exercise has a purpose, building strength, endurance and giving birth to new joys.  

Lord, lead us.  Take our hand and keep us from falling (Jude 1:24).  Provide rest and cool drinks of Your living water (Rev 21:6).  And may our eyes enjoy wonders we would have missed, had we remained in the valley below. In Jesus’ Name ❤️

https://www.facebook.com/Prayers-of-a-Ragamuffin-Warrior-171515087035441/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A City On A Hill

Image
A CITY ON A HILL By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly “You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house.” – Matthew‬ ‭5:14-15‬ ‭GW‬‬ And I saw thousands of souls struggling in a churning sea.  Under the darkness of a moonless sky, without a boat, they were tossed.  Beneath them sharks swam, nipping at heels, eliciting sharp cries from those who flailed.  It caused them to cling to their neighbor, pushing them to submerge, sputter and gasp.  Exhaustion, chaos and hopelessness hovered over the waters like a mist, obscuring the small points of light that seeped out from around the boarded windows of the nearby city on a hill.  The city on a hill—a beacon of hope to those drowning, contained behind windows shuttered with fear. Lord, we see chaos all around us —man’s inhumanity to man— fear, anxiet
Read more

Paul’s Handkerchief Prayer

Image
Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father! “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6 Lord, we don’t have to be the only one in a room to feel alone.  We can be in a coliseum full of people and still feel lonely.  We feel alone in our skin.  You encourage us to not forsake meeting together as a church (Hebrews 10:25), but it is the internal companionship that keeps us from feeling loneliness in that packed coliseum. Father, I lift my friend.  Your Word says that where two or more are gathered in Your Name, You are there in the midst of them.  So Lord, as in Acts 19:12 when Paul sent a blessed handkerchief to the sick and they were healed, likewise, across time and space I take hands with Your precious child.  Together we bow before You and admit we need You.  We invite Your presence.  If they feel lonely or alone today, in their life or in
Read more

Beauty Among the Ashes

Image
Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father!   “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that   I would see the goodness of the Lord in  the land of the living.   Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage,   And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” - Psalm 27:13-14 Father, we thank You that with You all things are possible.  All around us there are financial troubles, poverty, disease, depression, anxiety, divorces, confusion, disappointment, illness, loss, pain and grief.  The list goes on and on.  People are suffering, Father, and are clinging to the last vestiges of hope.   Lord, I lift up my friend.  You know precisely what weighs on their mind today, and which troubling thoughts strike fear in their heart.  Long seasons of struggle bring with them weariness and discouragement.  I cry out to You on their behalf, Lord.  You are able.  We ask for miracles.  Nothing is too difficult for You.  We ask that You take what the enemy intended for evil
Read more